Chinese Delegation Rejects US Accusations of Hegemony at Shangri-La Dialogue

Chinese delegation on Saturday rejected US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s baseless accusations against China at Shangri-La Dialogue, saying ‘leadership’ does not imply hegemony, status is determined by deeds , and that actions speak louder than words.

Lt. Gen. Jing Jianfeng, deputy chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Chinese Central Military Commission, told a press conference that by peddling the so-called “Indo -peaceful”, Washington was trying to maintain its hegemony.

Although the Cold War ended 32 years ago, the United States has not suppressed its vestiges, such as the Five Eyes alliance and the bilateral military alliance. On the contrary, they have intensified bloc politics and fueled conflicts and confrontations by launching the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and the AUKUS Trilateral Security Partnership.

“To pursue its selfish interests, the United States has instigated and coerced certain countries to act as pawns for the fundamental purpose of maintaining its hegemonic system, disregarding the aspirations for stability and order of the countries of the region. “, he estimated.

Regarding the Taiwan issue, Mr. Jing firmly refuted recent US remarks on Taiwan, saying they ignored facts and distorted the truth.

The United States has consistently weakened and hollowed out the one-China principle, strengthened so-called official exchanges with Taiwan, and tolerated “Taiwan independence” activities, he said. he declares.

The United States has also increased arms sales to Taiwan, both in quality and quantity, and has frequently crossed the Taiwan Strait to flex its muscles and allied with other countries to interfere in the Taiwan question,” Jing said.

He stressed that China’s military operations around the Taiwan Strait have targeted “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and interference from outside forces, and are justified.

The general added that China cannot be held responsible for changing the status quo; indeed, the United States, by “exploiting Taiwan to control China” and the “Taiwan independence” separatists, by relying on external forces, were the real factors behind the change in the status quo, the exacerbation of tensions and the calling into question of stability.

Noting that the Taiwan issue concerns China’s core interests and does not admit of any compromise, he said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China is fully prepared and ready to firmly uphold sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of China.

Jing said that in recent years, the United States has continued to interfere in the South China Sea issue and use it as a pretext to suppress other countries.

This attitude is completely contrary to the will and efforts of the countries of the region to seek peace, pursue development and promote stability, he said.

Jing stressed that China advocates the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea, adding that regional countries have the ability, confidence and wisdom to deal with this issue, and there is no no room for interference from countries outside the region.

He noted that the United States was the real mastermind of the tensions in the South China Sea.

In recent years, the United States has sent warships and military aircraft to the South China Sea to stir up trouble in the name of so-called “freedom of navigation”.

The United States has also stepped up efforts to increase temporary and rotating deployments, establish additional military bases and continue to strengthen its military presence in the South China Sea, Jing said.

“By doing so, the United States will only increase security risks and potential crises,” he added.

Regarding an incident in the South China Sea, in which the United States claimed that a Chinese fighter jet carried out an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver”, Mr Jing said that this maneuver was carried out in a legal and professional manner. , and that it only took place after a US reconnaissance aircraft deliberately interfered with a routine PLA Navy training exercise.

China attaches great importance to the development of military relations between China and the United States, and the exchanges between the two armies have not been interrupted, noted the Chinese general, adding that the United States should be blamed for the current obstacles to the development of these relations.

It won’t work if the United States calls for communication while undermining China’s interests, and pretends to strengthen crisis management while continuing its provocations, Jing said.

China urges the United States to sincerely respect China’s core interests and major concerns, take concrete steps to remove obstacles to military-to-military exchanges, and put the two-military relationship back on the right track. notice Mr. Jing.

Calling the Shangri-La Dialogue a platform for peace issues, not a display of hegemony, Jing said China stands for peace, development and cooperation, while the United States was clearly seeking to promote its “leadership”, to denigrate and repress others, and to preserve its hegemony.

Countries that adhere to strategic independence and peaceful development will not follow the United States down the old path of bloc confrontation, he added.