SINGAPORE: China’s defence minister warned Sunday against establishing NATO-like military alliances in the Asia-Pacific, saying they would plunge the region into a “whirlpool” of conflict.
Li Shangfu’s comments came a day after US and Chinese military vessels sailed close to each other in the flashpoint Taiwan Strait, an incident that provoked anger from both sides.
“Attempts to push for NATO-like (alliances) in the Asia-Pacific is a way of kidnapping regional countries and exaggerating conflicts and confrontations,” Li told a security conference in Singapore also attended by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Li said these alliances would “plunge the Asia-Pacific into a whirlpool of disputes and conflicts”.
Li did not name any country, but his comments echoed long-held Chinese criticism of the United States seeking to shore up alliances in the region.
The United States is a member of the AUKUS alliance, which groups it with Australia and Britain.
Washington is also a member of the QUAD group, which includes Australia, India and Japan.
“Today’s Asia-Pacific needs open and inclusive cooperation, not buddying up into small cliques,” Li said at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit.
“We must not forget the severe disasters brought by the two world wars to peoples of all countries, and we must not allow such tragic history to repeat itself.” – AFP
