China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu on Sunday Denounced the Creation of “NATO-style” Military Alliances in the Asia-Pacific Region. In his view, this Would plunge the Region into a “vortex” of Conflict.
In the midst of a war of influence with the United States, China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu on Sunday condemned the creation of “NATO-style” military alliances in the Asia-Pacific region. Such interference would increase the risk of conflict in the region.
“Attempts to promote NATO-style (alliances) in the Asia-Pacific region are a way of kidnapping the countries of this region and exaggerating conflicts and confrontations, which will only plunge the Asia-Pacific into a vortex of disputes and conflicts,” warned Mr. Li at a security conference organized as part of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
“Today’s Asia-Pacific needs open and inclusive cooperation, not grouping into small cliques. We must not forget the grave disasters caused by the two world wars to the peoples of all countries, and we must not allow this tragic history to be repeated,” he added.
Mr. Li did not name any particular country, but his remarks were implicitly aimed at the United States, which has strengthened its alliances and partnerships in the region to counter Beijing’s influence.
The US is a member of the AUKUS alliance with Australia and the UK, and of QUAD with Australia, India and Japan.
Mr. Li’s warning comes at a time of renewed Sino-American tensions in the Taiwan Strait, with the US Navy accusing a Chinese ship of “dangerously” zigzagging around a US destroyer on Saturday.
The revival of relations between the two powers stalled earlier this year after a Chinese balloon flew over US territory. And despite the American promise of a “thaw”, the two countries continue to cross swords over issues such as Taiwan, Chinese territorial claims in the China Sea and the strategic issue of microchips.
Maïssa Ben Fares, with AFP
