Security summit in Shangri-la: tense dialogue between the United States and China
Singapore, Shangri-La Security Forum in the presence of the American and Chinese Ministers of Defense, from June 10 to 12, 2022. REUTERS - CAROLINE CHIA
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
At the Singapore Security Summit, the US Minister of Defense denounced this Saturday, June 11, China's "destabilizing" military activity near Taiwan.
A response to his Chinese counterpart who said yesterday that China was ready to fight for Taiwan.
Tense dialogue, while Beijing wanted to lay low at Shangri-La.
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The speech of the Chinese Minister of Defense is expected for tomorrow Sunday at Shangri-La.
General Wei Fenghe must express Beijing's vision of security in Asia, reports our correspondent in Beijing,
Stéphane Lagarde
.
As the
South China Morning Post
points out , the delegation led by Wei Fenghe has more than 50 representatives, including senior officials, former diplomats and serving senior brass, but the latter do not participate in plenary sessions and will not take speaking as in previous years to avoid coming under fire from critics.
But his spokesman Wu Qian, recalled that Beijing would not hesitate to launch a war if Taiwan declared its independence, citing exchanges yesterday between the two Chinese and American defense ministers.
Minister Wei stressed that if anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will fight at all costs to resolutely crush any attempt to secession from Taiwan and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Taiwan is a sacred and inalienable part of the territory of China.
The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations.
Using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to failure.
Minister Wei pointed out that the new announcement of arms sales to Taiwan made by the United States the other day seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-United States joint communiqués, seriously undermines China's sovereignty and security interests.
China is
firmly opposes it and strongly condemns it.
The United States should take practical measures to do more things that are beneficial to the stability of the South China Sea, instead of creating conflicts, provoking disputes and playing confrontation.
Listen to Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qai: “Taiwan is a sacred and inalienable part of China’s territory”
The Chinese declaration immediately reacted to Washington, which in turn denounced this Saturday Beijing's "destabilizing" activity with Taiwan, in reference to the numerous
incursions by Chinese fighters
into the airspace of the island.
The United States and China have repeatedly stated that they are ready to go as far as
military confrontation in the Strait of Formosa
.
“
Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not just an interest of the United States.
It is a matter of international concern.
Let me be clear,
Lloyd Austin hammered
, we do not seek confrontation or conflict.
And we are not looking for a new cold war, an Asian NATO or a region divided into hostile blocs.
We will defend our interests without flinching.
We will also continue to support our friends who are asserting their rights.
And this is all the more important as China adopts a more coercive and aggressive approach in its territorial claims.
Indo-Pacific countries must not suffer political intimidation, economic coercion or harassment from maritime militias.
The Ministry of Defense will therefore maintain our active presence in the Indo-Pacific region
.
»
Beyond the words and hammered red lines, the game of go between Americans and Chinese in
the Indo-Pacific
continues on the ground.
Repeated air and naval maneuvers, a People's Army base under construction in Cambodia according to the
Washington Post
, and the release of a third Chinese aircraft carrier announced soon by state media.
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