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FILE PHOTO: China’s State Councilor Wang Yi speaks at the Lanting Forum on “International Order and Global Governance in the Post-COVID-19 Era,” Following the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak, in Beijing, China on September 28, 2020. REUTERS / Thomas Peter
KUALA LUMPUR – The top diplomat in the Chinese government, State Councilor Wang Yi, on Tuesday urged Asian countries to remain “vigilant” about the risk that US strategy will fuel geopolitical competition in the South China Sea and elsewhere. region of.
Beijing and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should work together to eliminate “external disruption” in the South China Sea, Wang said during a joint press conference with the Malaysian foreign minister.
“We (China and Malaysia) are of the opinion that the South China Sea should not be a fighting ground for great powers packed with warships,” said Wang, who is on a brief tour of Southeast Asia.
“China and ASEAN have full capacity and wisdom, as well as responsibility, to maintain peace and tranquility in (the) South China Sea.”
Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said maritime disputes should be resolved peacefully through regional dialogue.
In recent months, China has conducted military exercises in disputed parts of the strategic waterway, while Washington has accused Beijing of trying to build a “maritime empire” in the area.
Wang described Washington’s “Indo-Pacific” strategy, which aims to present the United States as a trusted partner in the region, as a “security risk” for East Asia.
“What it seeks is to proclaim the antiquated mentality of the cold war and start the confrontation between different groups and blocs, and stoke geopolitical competition,” he said.
“I think all parties see this clearly and will be vigilant.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has previously said that Washington wants a “free and open” Asia that is not dominated by any one country.
The Philippines’ top military commander said the rivalry between the United States and China meant that the situation at sea had become “very tense.”
General Gilbert Gapay told foreign media in Manila that the United States had stepped up naval patrols and China’s coast guard had been very active, while its maritime militia was “practically encroaching on most areas” of the Exclusive Economic Zone. From philippines.
During the joint briefing on Tuesday, Hishammuddin from Malaysia said that China had pledged to buy 1.7 million tonnes of palm oil by 2023 and pledged to encourage increased shipments of sustainably produced Malaysian palm oil. .
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