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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls Washington’s plan for an Indo-Pacific alliance a “security risk” even as Beijing displays its own military might.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has accused the United States of “fueling the confrontation” in Asia Pacific, declaring Washington’s plan to form an Indo-Pacific alliance a “security risk”, seen as a strategy. to counter Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the region.
Wang issued the statement on Tuesday, following his meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Hishammuddin Hussein, during which he also highlighted China’s leadership in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and urged the Associates of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN ) to work together to prevent “external disruptions.” . “
Wang’s trip to Kuala Lumpur is part of a tour of Southeast Asia and comes just days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Tokyo and held a four-way summit with foreign ministers from Japan, India and Australia.
Wang compared the emerging US-led alliance to NATO in Europe, saying what the US is doing could “mark the beginning of a dangerous and slippery step.”
“What it seeks is to proclaim the antiquated mentality of the Cold War and provoke the confrontation between different groups and blocs, and start a geopolitical competition,” he said.
“In this sense, the strategy itself is a security risk if pushed forward, it will turn back the clock of history.”
Mutual benefit policy
Wang said the United States is determined to maintain its dominance in the region, against the “spirit of mutual benefit and win-win” policies followed by the nations of Asia and the Pacific.
“In our opinion, the future of the region must be determined by the people of the region. For the East Asian countries, we have the right to achieve our own stability. We also have the right to pursue an independent foreign policy. “
For his part, Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein called on China and the United States to “resolve to strengthen their mutual trust” and to engage in talks “to manage differences.”
Hishammuddin also thanked Wang for making Malaysia a “priority recipient” of China’s coronavirus vaccine, which is under development and may be available “from November.”
While China has grown stronger after the coronavirus pandemic, it has come under fire for its increasing aggressiveness in its foreign policy in recent months, from the deadly standoff with India in the disputed Ladakh region to its continued expansion of artificial islands in the south. China Sea and its hostilities towards Taiwan.
China has also taken punitive measures against countries, including Australia, that have expressed opposition to Beijing’s policy towards the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and the Uighur Muslim minority in Xinjiang.
The United States sees the emerging quadruple grouping with Japan, India and Australia as a platform to strengthen its position with regional allies toward China.
The United States has also tried to bolster the military defenses of Taiwan, which China considers a rogue province.
Most Asian allies have welcomed Washington’s recent actions toward Beijing, including the deployment of several warships in the South China Sea.
But at the same time, the leaders of the Asia-Pacific region have also expressed reservations towards the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and his policies, as he further increases tensions through his confrontational style and rhetoric. .
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