China is Committed to Promoting International Security Cooperation --- The 18th Asian Security Conference /Shangri-La Dialogue was Held in Singapore

By Ding Ting, Lin Jian and Zhao Yipu

The International Security Situation

China is Committed to Promoting International Security Cooperation --- The 18th Asian Security Conference /Shangri-La Dialogue was Held in Singapore

By Ding Ting, Lin Jian and Zhao Yipu

The 18th Asian Security Conference/ Shangri-La Dialogue was held in Singapore from 31 May to 2 June. About 40 national defense ministers, senior military officers and experts and scholars attended the conference. Wei Fenghe, State Councilor and Defense Minister of China, led a delegation to the conference. Delegates from all countries held plenary meetings and special group meetings to discuss issues such as the security situation in the Asia-Pacific region, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the changing security order in Asia, the management and control of conflicts and the guarantee of regional stability, etc. During the meeting, the Chinese delegates held extensive exchanges with defense officials and scholars from various countries, and the concepts of peaceful development, openness and inclusiveness, win-win cooperation and mutual learning among civilizations mentioned by the Chinese delegates were widely recognized by the participants.

General Yao Yunzhu from China Military Academy at the dialogue.

The Shangri-La Dialogue is a multilateral forum sponsored by the British Institute for International Strategic Studies and held in 2002 with the support of the Singapore Government. It’s title is named after the Shangri-La Hotel where its annual meeting is held in Singapore. On the morning of June 2, Wei Fenghe delivered a speech to the plenary session on the topic of "China and international security cooperation", focusing on China's efforts to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for human kind, fully explaining China's adherence to the path of peaceful development, and the pursuit of national defense policy with defense in nature , and the positive contributions made by the Chinese Army to maintaining world peace and stability.

Wei Fenghe said that today's world is facing unprecedented changes unseen in a century, and uncertainty, instability and challenges are increasing. Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the idea of building a community with a shared future for human kind, which is the correct choice for the people of the world to live in harmony and effectively solve global problems and is also the right path to achieve world peace and tranquility, and human prosperity and development.

China is developing and the world is changing. In recent years, the Asia-Pacific region has become the most dynamic region with great potential in the world. China advocates mutual learning, exchanges and coexistence of civilizations, and opposes the so-called theory of clash of civilizations. The new concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security advocated by China conforms to the trend of the times and contributes Chinese wisdom to safeguarding regional security and stability. Jin Yinan, a professor at the National Defense University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, told reporters of this newspaper.

Zhou Bo, director of the Security Cooperation Center of the Office of International Military Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense of China, told reporters that there has never been a unified security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, which reflects the fact that different civilizations, systems and cultures coexist in the Asia-Pacific region. We should seek common ground while reserving differences and actively explore an open and inclusive Asia-Pacific security architecture that benefits all parties. The idea of building a community with a shared future for human kind has put forward China's plan, which is most in line with the interests of various parties and not directed at any country or region, conforms with the reality of the Asia-Pacific region and fully embodies the spirit of win-win cooperation.

In his speech to the Plenary Session, Wei Fenghe said that in the face of the complex and changeable international security situation, the Chinese government and army firmly safeguard the prosperity and stability of the world and regions. In the historical process of realizing the common prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, the core interests and security concerns of all countries in the world must be respected and safeguarded. China does not covet the interests of other countries nor envy the development of other countries, but will never give up its legitimate interests. No foreign country should expect us to swallow up the bitter fruits that undermine China's sovereignty, security and development interests.

Regarding the Taiwan issue, Wei Fenghe said that any attempt to split China could not succeed, that any interference in the Taiwan issue was doomed to failure, and that any underestimation of the determination and will of the Chinese army was extremely dangerous. We are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with our utmost sincerity and efforts, but we will never commit ourselves to abandoning the use of force. If someone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will have no choice but to fight at all costs and resolutely safeguard the reunification of the motherland.

On the South China Sea issue, Wei Fenghe said that the current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable and gets better. China and ASEAN countries have made positive progress in promoting consultations on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea". China hopes that relevant parties should not underestimate the wisdom and ability of relevant countries to solve differences and maintain peace around the South China Sea, and also welcomes constructive proposals from all countries.

Regarding the Sino-U.S. relations, Wei Fenghe said that the Sino-U.S. relations have gone through ups and downs and generally moved forward. The Sino-U.S. cooperation is the only right choice. Cooperation between the two countries will benefit both sides while fighting will hurt both sides. The two armies should implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries and make the military-to-military relationship a stabilizer of bilateral relations. We hope that the United States and China will move towards the same goal, rather than confront each other, respect each other, and cooperate for win-win results, as well as promote the development of the Sino-U.S. relations along the right track. China openly and frankly sets out the bottom line, demonstrated its views, positions as well as determination to safeguard its own interests on hot issues, Jin Yinan said.

At the dialogue, the Chinese delegates clearly expound their views and needs and firmly safeguard their own interests, especially on the Taiwan issue, clearly convey the firm determination of a major country to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Timor-Leste's Defense Minister and Acting Interior Minister Filomeno told reporters of this newspaper.

Globally, China has military cooperation with more than 150 countries, and has unfolded defense consultation mechanisms with 42 countries, reflecting that China is actively assuming the responsibility of a major country. For a long time, China has actively participated in bilateral and multilateral security cooperation, and maintained long-term peaceful coexistence and good-neighborliness with neighboring countries. History has proven and will continue to prove that China does not follow the beaten track of a "major power bound to be hegemonic". The Chinese army is willing to work with the armed forces of all countries in the Asia-Pacific region to meet the challenges, promote the construction of a community with a shared future for the Asia-Pacific and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

In recent years, China and neighboring countries have regularly organized a series of joint exercises and training on counter-terrorism, peacekeeping and rescue work. Practical cooperation has been upgraded, especially with ASEAN in defense cooperation. Delegates from all countries attending the Shangri-La Dialogue fully affirm China's role in safeguarding world and regional peace. China is not a security threat to the Asia-Pacific region, and we always regard China as a friend. China is very important to the economic development of Southeast Asian countries, and China pursues win-win cooperation in regional development, with which we fully agree, Felomino said.

China has always pursued a military strategy of active defense. We can no longer use the Cold War mentality to solve practical problems, otherwise it will be a retrogression of history." Zhao Xiaozhuo, a researcher at the the Chinese Academy of Military Sciences, told reporters of this newspaper.

Sandip Malatti, an adviser to India's Ministry of Defense, believes that China is an important driving force for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and that China's pragmatic cooperation with Asian-Pacific countries promotes regional stability.

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Nhek Bun told reporters that China is an important force in maintaining regional and world peace and security. China's security proposition and concept are playing an active role in promoting and maintaining the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.

( Edited excerpts of the article in People's Daily June 3, 2019)