US seeks to build Asia-Pacific version of NATO: China defence official

Singapore, Singapore – AFP

A Chinese defence official accused the United States on Saturday of seeking to build an Asia-Pacific version of NATO to maintain its hegemony in the region.

Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng made the remarks on the sidelines of a major security forum in Singapore where US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier hailed a “new era of security” for the region.

“In recent years, the US has broken its promises and obscured and hollowed out the one-China principle, supported and armed Taiwan for independence and sold chaos in the Taiwan strait.

“The PLA will never allow Taiwan to be split from China. Taiwan independence equals war. The PLA will not stop enhancing combat readiness, will not stop our fight against Taiwan independence separatist and fight for unification, will never be soft on external interference, and will take resolute actions to fulfill our mission of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“There is recurring tension in certain areas of the South China Sea and the root cause is that the Philippines breaks its promises, makes provocations and infringes on China’s rights and the US meddles in the issue to muddy the water and fuel the fire. In its speech this morning, the US side backed up the Philippines and alluded to China’s legitimate operations to protect our rights. This is completely unjustifiable.”