Senior Chinese general blasts ‘provocative’ remarks by US and Japan at security forum

SINGAPORE - A senior Chinese general today (June 1) reiterated China’s strong objections to what he said were ‘provocative’ remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and United States Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel against China, as he issued a strongly-worded defense of Beijing’s actions in the disputed islands of the South China Sea.

Departing from his prepared speech at the final day of the Shangri-la Dialogue annual security summit, Lieutenant General Wang Guanzhong, a deputy chief of General Staff from China’s People’s Liberation Army, said he was taken aback by the remarks made by Mr Abe and Mr Hagel over the previous days and accused them of staging provocative actions against China.

“The speeches made by Mr Abe and Mr Hagel gave me the impression that they coordinated with each other. They took advantage of speaking first at the Shangri-la Dialogue and staged provocative actions and challenges against China,” he told the forum.

In his keynote speech outlining his vision for a greater regional security role for Japan on Friday, Mr Abe had stressed that countries must respect the rule of law, in what was possibly a veiled reference to Beijing’s increasingly assertive moves in its claims on the East and South China Seas.

Meanwhile, Mr Hagel yesterday warned China to halt destabilising actions in Asia, adding that the US opposed any use of intimidation, coercion, or the threat of force to assert such claims.

Defending China’s actions in the South China Sea, Mr Wang cited Beijing’s well-stated positions on its sweeping claims, saying they were based on historical evidence, but noted that it was working with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to work towards a Code of Conduct for the resource-rich waters.