US ‘Indo-Pacific strategy’, formation of cliques will result in divisions, chaos: Chinese navy
3 min read China’s navy on Thursday criticised the Biden administration for persevering with the Trump period “Indo-Pacific strategy”, saying the US shouldn’t type “cliques” or provoke “new Cold War” that includes bloc confrontation.
No technique ought to instigate international locations to determine selective and unique navy alliances, to gang up or to create the “new Cold War” that includes bloc confrontation, and the zero-sum recreation will solely result in extra division, antagonism and chaos, Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defence, mentioned at a web-based press convention.
He made the remarks whereas responding to a query that US President Joe Biden has continued to advertise the “Indo-Pacific strategy” formulated by his predecessor Donald Trump to discourage China and made frequent navy provocations in opposition to Beijing.
His feedback additionally got here every week after a US Navy guided-missile destroyer sailed by the Taiwan Strait on May 19, difficult China’s claims over the world as Beijing claims Taiwan as a part of its mainland.
The Chinese navy, which rushed its ships to pursue the American warship, accused the US of resorting to provocative strikes.
The US Navy’s seventh Fleet mentioned in an announcement “the ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific”.
Sr. Col. Tan didn’t immediately discuss with the Quadrilateral alliance or Quad comprising the US, India, Australia and Japan whereas accusing Washington of forming cliques. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has in current weeks stepped up assaults on the four-nation alliance, terming it as an unique clique portraying China as a problem and sowing discord between Beijing and regional international locations.
Tan, whereas claiming that China all the time holds that no technique ought to go in opposition to the historic development of peace and growth, or intentionally hype up battle and confrontation, mentioned that intensifying navy presence and highlighting navy competitors will solely worsen regional tensions and endanger world peace and stability.
“No strategy should harm the welfare of people in regional countries, or put them in a dangerous situation. Seeking one’s own selfish interests and unilateral absolute security will only do harm to others and lose their support,” he was quoted as saying by the Chinese navy on-line.
Referring to the reported feedback by a US defence division official that the US authorities intends to place in place extra defence hotlines with China to handle safety dangers and forestall potential conflicts, the Chinese defence ministry spokesperson mentioned that for a very long time, the Chinese and American militaries have all the time maintained communication by a number of channels, together with the direct line between the 2 defence ministries.
“We consider that its function is to boost belief, cut back misgivings, handle crises, and forestall conflicts. The US facet shouldn’t, on the one hand, declare to place up new defence hotlines, whereas alternatively hold ramping up navy deployments within the Asian Pacific area, continuously conduct close-in reconnaissance on China, and even intentionally provoke harmful circumstances the place plane and vessels almost collide, he mentioned.
He mentioned that China advises the US facet to maintain their phrases and match their deeds accordingly, show sincerity, work with the Chinese facet towards the identical purpose, and push ahead the wholesome and secure growth of mil-to-mil relations by intensifying dialogue and communication and correctly managing divergences.
China and the US are at present at loggerheads over a number of points because the Biden administration continued the robust coverage to include China initiated by Trump, concentrating on Beijing on Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Biden beefed-up the US-China coverage by uniting US allies just like the UK, the EU and Japan. He additionally hosted the primary quadrilateral summit of the rising alliance referred to as Quad in March which included the US, Australia, Japan and India.
