China News Agency, Beijing, June 15th: What is the significance of China's participation in the "Fragrance Club"?
——Interview with Zhao Xiaozhuo, researcher of the Academy of Military Sciences
China News Agency reporter Li Shuangnan
A few days ago, the Shangri-La Dialogue (hereinafter referred to as the "Shangri-La Dialogue"), which was "suspended" for two years due to the epidemic, was reconvened offline.
This year's "Incense Conference" was held against the backdrop of the United States vigorously promoting the "Indo-Pacific strategy" and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and attracted worldwide attention.
Why does China want to participate in this year's "Fragrance Fair"?
What is the role and significance of the meeting between the Chinese and US defense ministers?
How will the United States advance the "Indo-Pacific strategy" in the future?
The "East and West Questions" column of China News Agency conducted an exclusive interview with Zhao Xiaozhuo, a researcher at the Academy of Military Sciences who participated in the "Xiang Meeting" for nine consecutive times.
The following is a summary of the interview transcript:
China News Agency reporter: The "Xianghui" is a platform built by the West, and China's participation in it will inevitably become the target of attacks by the United States and its allies. So, why does China still participate in the "fragrant meeting"?
Zhao Xiaozhuo:
The "Xianghui" mainly discusses international and regional security issues, many of which involve national security interests and present different aspects in the eyes of different countries, which are often sensitive and full of opposition.
Therefore, when countries with different interests and demands jointly participate in the meeting, it is easy to "quarrel".
China is a big country that is increasingly moving towards the center of the world stage. The world needs to know more about China, and China also needs to understand the world better.
Face-to-face communication between senior defense officials, experts and scholars from various countries is the best way to understand each other.
The basic function of the military is to safeguard the country's sovereignty and security interests. In the absence of communication and exchanges between the militaries of different countries, it is easy to look at the worst situation.
This is especially true of the lack of strategic mutual trust between the two sides, which may eventually lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy of confrontation and conflict.
This time, China overcame the impact of the epidemic and sent a high-level delegation to participate, precisely with the desire to spread the voice of China, tell the story of China well, and increase trust and dispel doubts.
On the morning of the 12th, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe delivered a speech at the conference on the topic of "China's Vision for Regional Order".
Minister Wei's speech was divided into three parts. First, he expounded on China's concept of "maintaining and practicing multilateralism and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind"; second, he demonstrated the great contributions of the Chinese government and military to world peace and development, such as participating in UN peacekeeping. Action, escort in the Gulf of Aden, humanitarian relief and disaster reduction, etc. Finally, China's position was expounded on several issues of high concern at home and abroad, such as the Taiwan issue, the South China Sea issue, Sino-US relations, and the Ukraine crisis.
The training base of the Peacekeeping Affairs Center of the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
In the question and answer session, Minister Wei answered 11 questions in 2 rounds.
After the first round of 5 questions, the host said that there were 44 people on his list to ask questions, and only five or six could be selected due to time constraints.
The 11 issues are basically challenging, involving the Taiwan issue, China's military modernization, the development of China's nuclear forces, Sino-US relations, and the Ukraine crisis.
Most of the questioners use straightforward words and tricky angles, and it is inevitable to "dig a hole and set up a trap" in the question.
In the face of a series of sharp questions, Minister Wei responded quickly and answered very wonderfully, with a candid attitude, full answers, concise and clear words.
Whether it was the speech session or the question-and-answer session, there was warm applause at the scene.
This fully shows that China's "borrowing stage to sing opera" shows the confidence of a big country.
China News Service: On the one hand, the United States is constantly promoting the "Indo-Pacific strategy", but on the other hand, it claims not to seek a new Cold War or an Asian version of NATO. How to understand this contradiction in the United States?
Zhao Xiaozhuo:
After US President Joe Biden took office last year, there was news of re-evaluating and formulating strategies for the Indo-Pacific region.
It was not until February of this year that the White House released the "U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy" report, but the content was relatively general.
Politically, it is mainly to strengthen the alliance system, draw lines with ideology and values, and expand the "democratic camp".
Economically, Biden launched the "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" when he visited Japan on May 24.
At this "Incense Conference", US Secretary of Defense Austin explained the military part of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" in a more systematic way, which can be regarded as a general outline of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy".
The military concept of the US "Indo-Pacific strategy" can be summarized as "one goal, two main points".
"One goal" is to suppress, contain and contain China.
The "two major points" include: one is to strengthen the U.S. military deployment in the Indo-Pacific region, and to enhance the U.S. military capability so that it has sufficient capacity to deal with regional emergencies; On the basis of the five military alliances of China, Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand, develop partnerships, such as relations with India, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia, focusing on the development of the US-Japan-India-Australia "Quad Security Dialogue" and the AUKUS US-UK-Australia military alliance.
The United States is well aware that it is not enough to contain China by itself, and it must bring in more countries.
It is especially worth noting that the United States has also led the NATO forces in Europe to the Asia-Pacific region. This time, the participation of more European countries in the "Fragrance Conference" is a clear signal.
In the final analysis, the goal of the US "Indo-Pacific Strategy" is to drag down China's rise and even interrupt the process of China's rise by changing China's surrounding security environment.
However, the US "Indo-Pacific Strategy" has faced structural difficulties since its introduction.
On the one hand, when the United States strengthens the alliance system, it will inevitably create "enemies", because the nature of the alliance is to rely on external threats to maintain its internal unity. The clearer and stronger the enemy, the stronger the internal cohesion.
On the other hand, the result of exaggerating the "China threat" and suppressing and containing China is to push China to the opposite side of the United States.
Therefore, while the United States wants to continuously stimulate regional security hotspots such as the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea, in an attempt to strategically consume China, it is also worried that it will face serious consequences due to the loss of control of Sino-US relations.
It is against this background that Austin proposed that the United States does not seek confrontation with China, a Cold War with China, or the establishment of an "Asian version of NATO."
However, the United States says one thing and does another, keeps its promises and constantly overturns its promises. This is at the cost of consuming the strategic credit of the United States as a major power.
China News Service: How do you understand the role and significance of the meeting between the Chinese and US defense ministers?
Zhao Xiaozhuo:
Before the official start of the "Fragrant Meeting", Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe held the first offline meeting with US Secretary of Defense Austin.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said that this was a frank, positive and constructive strategic communication. The two defense ministers exchanged views on China-US military relations, Taiwan, the South China Sea, Ukraine and other issues.
Although some issues are old issues between China and the United States, and the positions of the two sides cannot be substantively changed through a single meeting, communication is still very important, because the situation is constantly developing, and old issues have different contents at different stages.
Under such tense Sino-US relations, it is of positive significance for the defense ministers of the two countries to meet and show their willingness to solve the problem.
On June 10, State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, who was attending the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, held talks with US Secretary of Defense Austin, who was also attending the conference.
Photo by Li Xiaowei
The meeting between the defense ministers of China and the United States also reached a consensus, that is, both sides agreed to continue to strengthen communication, especially in crisis management, which is a positive signal.
Military exchanges involve all levels, and high-level communication is particularly important. Only after the high-level reaches a basic consensus can it be gradually extended downwards.
In fact, there are several communication channels between the Chinese and American militaries, such as China-US defense consultations, working meetings of the Ministry of Defense, and the Joint Staff Dialogue Mechanism. However, most of these mechanisms were interrupted during the epidemic.
Whether these mechanisms can be gradually restarted after the talks between the defense ministers of China and the United States is an important indicator to observe.
China News Agency reporter: At this "Fragrant Meeting", what are the views of most Asia-Pacific countries on the prospects of the region?
Zhao Xiaozhuo:
This "fragrance meeting" reflects an important trend, that is, the vast number of Asia-Pacific countries have made it clear that they do not want to see confrontation and conflict between China and the United States, and do not want to take sides between China and the United States.
Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo made it clear that Indonesia's position is very clear, respecting all major powers and not participating in any military alliances.
In particular, he called for an "Asian way" to address regional challenges.
Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin also stressed that ASEAN will follow its own path and will not take sides.
"Whatever the US demands, we have to convince them that it has to be in the interests of ASEAN, not just the US," he said in an interview. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Di Ban also said, Cambodia is a sovereign and independent country with complete right to decide its own destiny.
Throughout the world, the Asia-Pacific region is one of the few regions in the world that has maintained long-term peace and stability.
Although the Asia-Pacific region has various security issues and many uncertain and unstable factors, it has generally maintained peace and stability for decades.
China has contributed greatly to this.
China has territorial, island and reef disputes with neighboring countries, but China has always advocated diplomatic, negotiated and peaceful settlements, and has played an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific.
Most Asia-Pacific countries refuse to choose sides between China and the United States. They also agree with China's ideas and actions. They are willing to work with China to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future. keep it up.
(Finish)
Interviewee Profile:
Zhao Xiaozhuo, researcher of the Scientific Research Department of the Academy of Military Sciences, academic director of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum Secretariat, doctoral tutor, academic leader, and a standing foreign propaganda expert of the whole army.
Mainly research the US military, Sino-US military relations, international security situation.
He edited 8 academic monographs such as "Foreign National Defense and Army Construction Course" and "Iraq War Studies", participated in the writing of more than 10 academic books such as "War Strategy Theory" and "New Trends in the Development of Military Theory of Great Powers in the Early 21st Century", and published more than 200 academic articles. , and won 20 Outstanding Achievement Awards in Military Science of the Academy of Military Sciences.
Since 2012, he has participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore for 9 consecutive times as a member of the expert group of the military delegation.