BEIJING – China’s Defence Minister said on Sept 13 that China would enhance military ties with its neighbours, saying major countries had to take a lead in safeguarding global security.
In a wide-ranging speech to China’s annual military diplomacy forum in Beijing, Mr Dong Jun made a pitch to the Global South, taking several veiled swipes at perceived Western interference.
“Major countries must take the lead in safeguarding global security, abandon a zero-sum mindset and refrain from bullying the small and the weak,” Mr Dong said.
In a multipolar world, “no one can afford to be an outsider or onlooker”, he added. “Countries – no matter big or small, developed or developing – should have an equal right to participate in international affairs and voice their needs, and uphold their legitimate rights and interests.”
Mr Dong’s remarks come as communications ease between the US and Chinese militaries despite roiling tensions over the South China Sea, Taiwan, and Washington’s concerns at Beijing’s close relationship with Russia. Mr Dong made his remarks to representatives from 90 countries and international organisations at the tightly choreographed three-day forum, which ends on Sept 14.
Mr Dong said China would boost military ties with regional countries and “deepen and expand military relations with developing countries across the board”.
He said that to solve regional tensions, regional countries should “seek strength through unity and rely on themselves for their own peace”.
“We should put down arrogance and prejudice, never interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, never violate other countries’ rights and interests,” Mr Dong said.
He also urged against “the proliferation of national security concepts” to ensure “new technologies can better benefit the whole mankind” – a likely reference to the US’ efforts to block Beijing’s access to advanced technology.
“At a time of high global security risks and increased instability and unpredictability, the responsibility for building the defence and security capacity of all countries is enormous,” Mr Dong said.
Beijing, he added, “is willing to work with all parties to strengthen strategic alignment, deepen defence consultations, discuss the signing of bilateral and multilateral agreements on defence cooperation”.
Washington and Beijing remain at odds on issues from trade to the status of self-ruled Taiwan and China’s increasingly assertive approach in disputed maritime regions. But they have sought to re-establish regular military-to-military talks in a bid to prevent flashpoint disputes from spinning out of control.
In his speech, Mr Dong also said that “negotiation” was the only solution to conflicts such as the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
“To resolve hot-spot issues such as the crisis in Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, promoting peace and negotiation is the only way out. There is no winner in war and conflict, and confrontation leads nowhere,” he said.
“The more acute the conflict, the more we cannot give up dialogue and consultation. The end of any conflict is reconciliation,” he added, calling on all countries to promote “peaceful development and inclusive governance”.
The US is represented at the forum by Mr Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defence for China, Taiwan and Mongolia.
Although some regional states have sent defence ministers to the forum, Western countries generally send lower-level delegations, preferring the long-standing annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to discuss key security issues.
China is eager to promote itself as a responsible player in global conflicts, despite being entangled in long-simmering territorial spats in East Asia. The 2024 forum is themed Promoting Peace for a Shared Future.
Mr Dong is responsible for China’s military diplomacy but is not part of the Central Military Commission, China’s core command body.
An admiral in China’s navy, he was appointed in December after an anti-corruption purge in the army’s top ranks. REUTERS, AFP
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Publish date : 2024-09-12 16:37:00
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