MACAU DAILY TIMES 澳門每日時報Chinese general takes tough stance on Taiwan at international naval meeting

Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, speaks at the conference
Western Pacific Navy Symposium held in Qingdao yesterday

OOne of China’s top military leaders has taken a tough stance on regional territorial disputes, telling an international naval meeting in northeastern China yesterday that the country would retaliate with force if its interests were threatened.

The 19th biennial meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium opened in the port city of Qingdao, where China’s northern naval force is based, providing a vivid backdrop to China’s massive military expansion over the past two decades, building or renovating three aircraft carriers . .

The four-day meeting has attracted representatives from partners and competitors including Australia, Cambodia, Chile, France, India and the US, and comes amid heightened tensions over China’s assertive actions in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South -China Sea, and because the Chinese Navy has grown into the world’s largest in terms of number of hulls.

Zhang Youxia, the vice chairman of the ruling Communist Party’s Central Military Commission, which controls the armed forces, spoke of “common development” and said that “decoupling, friction and confrontation will only divide the world into isolated islands that are viewed with suspicion.” watch against each other. ”

However, he then turned to China’s territorial claims, which have not been recognized and in some cases denied under international law. Beijing has ignored rulings that were not in its favor, especially in the South China Sea, where it is in conflict with five other parties over islands, waterways and undersea resources.

Japan continues to defend its control over the uninhabited Senkaku Island chain, called Diaoyu by China, in the East China Sea against Chinese coast guard incursions.

Taiwan last week strengthened its position in the disputed South China Sea by establishing satellite communications between the main island and its garrison on Taiping Island, also known as Itu Aba, the largest land area in the highly disputed Spratly Island chain. China has created seven artificial islands in the area by piling sand and cement on the coral reefs and then equipping them with airstrips and other military infrastructure.

Zhang said China’s territorial sovereignty “will not tolerate any infringement and its core interests cannot be questioned. We do not provoke trouble, but we will never shy away from provocation. The Chinese military will resolutely defend the reunification and the interests of the motherland.”

Zhang has spoken in the past of Beijing’s determination to take control of the self-governing island of Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory, by force if necessary. With its crucial high-tech economy, Taiwan has built up its defense on its own and with help from the US, where Congress this weekend approved $8 billion in military aid to Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.

Taiwan also builds its own submarines and trainer aircraft and is awaiting delivery of upgraded versions of F-16 fighter jets, battle tanks and other hardware from the US.

Zhang appeared to put pressure on China’s unilateralist approach to foreign relations and military conflict, as espoused by Xi Jinping, the country’s top military commander, leader of the Communist Party and head of state.

China “remains committed to resolving maritime disputes with directly involved countries through friendly consultations, but we will not allow our good faith to be abused,” Zhang said. “Especially about the self-governing island republic of Taiwan, which Beijing is threatening to bring under its control by force. We will take justifiable actions to defend our rights in accordance with the law.”

Zhang’s comments follow a major shake-up within the Chinese military in recent months, which has seen former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and several top missile corps officers disappear, still unexplained.NG HAN GUAN & CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, QINGDAO, MDT/AP

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