In address to Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Dong says his country stands firm against ‘war or chaos’ in region.
China will not allow any country to ignite wars – cold or hot – in the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun told an international security conference in Singapore on Sunday.
“We will not allow hegemony and power politics to harm the Asia-Pacific. Nor will we allow geopolitical conflicts, cold wars or hot wars to be introduced into the Asia-Pacific. Nor will we allow any country or any force to create war and chaos here,” Dong said in an address to the Shangri-La Dialogue.
He added that countries in the region had the ability and confidence to solve regional problems.
A day earlier, Dong’s US counterpart, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, told the forum that the United States was committed to improving partnerships and alliances in the region.
Dong and Austin met on the event’s sidelines on Friday in the first face-to-face meeting between the two countries’ defence chiefs in two years.
In terms of China-US military relations, Dong said China had always been open to exchanges and cooperation with the US military.
“We believe that it is precisely because of the differences between the two militaries that more exchanges are needed. Even if the paths are different, we should not seek confrontation,” Dong said.Taiwan
He also said Beijing was committed to “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, but the prospect was being “undermined by Taiwan separatists and external forces”.
