1 of 1 Li Shangfu before the lecture on June 4, 2023 Photo: Mark Cheong/Portal Li Shangfu before the lecture on June 4, 2023 Photo: Mark Cheong/Portal
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu said on Sunday that a conflict with the US is an “unsustainable disaster” but that his country is seeking dialogue rather than confrontation.
Speaking in the uniform of a PLA general at Asia’s most important security summit, the ShangriLa Dialogue, Li said the world is big enough for China and the US to grow together.
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“China and the US have different systems and differ in many ways,” he said in a speech that marked his first significant international engagement since his appointment as China’s national defense minister in March.
“But this shouldn’t stop the two sides from seeking common ground and common interests to strengthen bilateral ties and deepen cooperation,” he said. “It is undeniable that a major conflict or confrontation between China and the US will be an unbearable disaster for the world.”
Relations between Washington and Beijing are strained over a number of issues, including Taiwan, territorial disputes in the South China Sea and US President Joe Biden’s restrictions on semiconductor chip exports.
In their latest row, China’s military criticized the United States and Canada for “deliberate incitement to risk” after the two countries’ navies made a rare joint trip through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Saturday.
On Saturday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, speaking at the security meeting in Singapore, chided China for refusing to hold military talks, leaving the superpowers deadlocked over their differences.
Li was more reserved in his speech, although he voiced veiled criticism of the US, accusing “some countries” of stepping up the arms race and deliberately interfering in the internal affairs of others.
“Now there’s a Cold War mentality again that greatly increases security risks,” he said. “Mutual respect must take precedence over bullying and hegemony.”
Li, who was sanctioned by the US in 2018 for Russia’s arms purchase, shook hands with Austin at a dinner on Friday, but the two held no further talks despite repeated US calls for more military exchanges.
Speaking privately on the sidelines of the conference, two Chinese military officials said Beijing wanted clear signals from Washington for a less confrontational approach in Asia including lifting sanctions on Li before military talks could resume.