Chinese and Russian defense officials on Friday took swipes at the West at a military diplomacy forum in Beijing, with China pitching to the Global South and Russia saying the United States was shifting military conflicts to the Asia-Pacific.
In a wide-ranging speech to the annual Xiangshan Forum, China's defense minister, Dong Jun, said China would enhance military ties with its neighbors and with developing countries in particular.
"Major countries must take the lead in safeguarding global security, abandon a zero-sum mindset and refrain from bullying the small and the weak," Dong said, in a veiled criticism of the United States, which he did not name.
In a "multipolar" world, "no one can afford to be an outsider or onlooker", he added.
"Countries, no matter big or small, developed or developing, should have an equal right to participate in international affairs and voice their needs, and uphold their legitimate rights and interests," Dong said.
Dong's remarks come as communications ease between the U.S. and Chinese militaries despite roiling tensions over the South China Sea, Taiwan and Washington's concerns at Beijing's close relationship with Russia amid its 30-month-old invasion of Ukraine.
Dong made his remarks to representatives from 90 countries and international organisations at the tightly choreographed three-day forum, which ends on Saturday.
He said that to solve regional tensions, regional countries should "seek strength through unity and rely on themselves for their own peace".
"We should put down arrogance and prejudice, never interfere in other countries' internal affairs, never violate other countries' rights and interests," Dong said.
Russian deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin was more explicit, saying in his speech that the United States was trying to contain China and Russia while preparing for war in Asia by creating new security blocs.
"Russia and China support the creation of a just, multipolar world order based on equality and mutual respect," he said.
"In order to create conditions to force Russia into negotiations based on Kyiv’s formulas, NATO countries plan to send troops to Ukraine," he added. "This is a dangerous game which can lead to a direct conflict of nuclear powers."
NATO has said repeatedly it has no plans to send troops to Ukraine.
Fomin’s rhetoric contrasted with Dong's vision of Beijing as a responsible international crisis mediator.
China is eager to promote itself as a responsible player in global conflicts, despite being entangled in long-simmering territorial spats in East Asia. This year's forum is themed "Promoting Peace for a Shared Future".
Some diplomats and analysts are watching closely for signs of further progress in the military relationship between the U.S. and China on the fringes of the conference.
The U.S. is represented by Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defence for China, Taiwan and Mongolia.
Chase will head a U.S. delegation for talks with Chinese military counterparts after the forum - building on defence co-ordination talks in Hawaii that resumed in January for the first time since September 2021, the Pentagon said.
Although some regional states have sent defence ministers to the forum, Western countries generally send lower-level delegations, preferring the long-standing annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to discuss key security issues.
The forum comes after U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met Zhang Youxia, the vice-chairman of the China's commanding Central Military Commission, in Beijing last month and U.S. and Chinese theatre-level commanders this week held their first-ever conference call.
On the forum sidelines, former senior Pentagon official for China Chad Sbragia said U.S. participation in the event showed Washington was committed to engagement.
"It shows, I think, symbolically to China, to the United States and certainly to allies and partners globally that the United States is committed to listening, to participating, to joining in and not being afraid to talk," Sbragia said.
Dong is responsible for China's military diplomacy but is not part of the Central Military Commission, China's core command body.
An admiral in China's navy, he was appointed in December after an anti-corruption purge in the army's top ranks.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.
46 Comments
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Haaa Nemui
Uh huh. Interesting. Maybe leading by example would be a good move for any country represented by a spokesperson saying such things.
quercetum
China's strategy with Latin America should also be in line - parallel with that of Russia's with Iran. Latin American lacks nuclear weapons and nuclear enriched facilities allowing the US to dominate and interfere in the elections and affairs in the region.
lincolnman
Xi cementing his grip over Putin showing him who is Emperor and who is a subservient Vassal...
Notice this forum wasn't held in Moscow...
V Campbell
It would be difficult to create sentences that are more untrue or more ironic than this Tiny Dong saying, "Russia and China support the creation of a just, multipolar world order based on equality and mutual respect" and "Countries, no matter big or small, developed or developing, should have an equal right to participate in international affairs and voice their needs, and uphold their legitimate rights and interests."
TaiwanIsNotChina
So basically start proliferating to heck? Sounds like something China would do.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The Philippines has a right to uphold their legitimate rights and interests over the Second Thomas Shoal.
isabelle
Then stop stealing people's territory, and committing state-sponsored piracy, China.
Then stop blocking Taiwan's recognition at the UN, WHO, etc. etc., China.
Yes, and Chinese aggression is leading to precisely such unity: alliances with the US, interoperability agreements, AUKUS, Quad, etc.
No evidence for this, and has been denied by NATO.
Invading your neighbor, as Russia is doing, is the real "dangerous game."
TaiwanIsNotChina
Talk about newspeak. I guess he means ally with China or else.
Christopher
Lies. All lies by the Chinese. So Chinas interest lay in Japanese waters? Or even maybe the exploitation of the Philippines and its people?
Just 9 days ago in General Santos I witnessed flagless Chinese fishing vessels trying to catch various Tuna species and other fish in Philippines maritime waters. Stealing seafood that clearly belong to the Filipino people. China does not have enough food recourses to feed its own peoples or victors.
The current population of China in 2024 is 1,425,178,782,pepoles not including tourists or other visitors.
China can package their (promote peace for a shared future all they like). Its all lies and smoke and mirrors.
Beijing only wants to see China first. This is a PR campaign were all supposed to fall for it? And with current weak leadership in the White house. Most just might. Not asking the Chinese to take certain steps or offering any substantial guarantees. Were all supposed to believe China at their word at some conference taking their word for it with out any collateral put down? Siding with Russia? This is an utter joke. It is a sea territorial race against time. And guess what. Its going to come to a head soon. What will the US do? I know what she will do. Instead of building more ships and better relationships with our partners in the APAC to combat this rapidly growing issue.
She will put her earbuds in. And block out reality. China will go so strong in 4 years under her. Watch and see.
lincolnman
I assume by "she" you mean Harris. Let me help you understand...
Harris doesn't have a long term business relationship with China like your guy and his "Trump Collection" clothing line...
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-event-touted-made-america-goods-lot-his-merchandise-couldn-n893656
Harris doesn't have a secret Chinese bank account...
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/10/donald-trump-chinese-bank-account
Harris didn't say this about Xi...“Look, I want China to do great, I do. And I like President Xi a lot, he was a very good friend of mine during my term".
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/04/trump-xi-chinese-tariff-00139531
Xi, and Putin and Kim, would love to have Trump back in the WH - they know how easy he is to manipulate and play...
WiseOneIn Kansai
So, what are you doing to the Philippines?
So, what are you doing to Taiwan?
So, what's happening with Linda Sun in the US and Alice Guo in the Philippines?
Never trust anything the CCP says!!
Peter14
China, Russia tell lies about the west at annual scamfest forum in Beijing.
China's defense minister, Dong Jun, said many lies not just about the west but also about China and Russia who actively battle against those who do support equality for smaller nations, all the while China and Russia bully, coerce and steal from those smaller nations.
This is turning into standard practice of misleading and lying to the world by Chinese officials. Anyone paying attention to world events is not being fooled by these fascist countries who expect everyone to bow and defer to China and Russia in all things. They will not be happy until they have started WWIII and caused billions to die, in order to get what they want, Control!
deanzaZZR
It's like a game of Twister with the USA these days. Taiwan is a province of China. And "Taiwan" here actually means the Republic of China which claims Mongolia as part of its territory. You can't make this stuff up it is so comical. (sad actually as my taxes support this guy's salary and benefits).
https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/2532656/michael-s-chase/
isabelle
To be honest, I don't think even the Chinese/Russian mouthpieces believe it most of the time. But they're stuck in a brutal, authoritarian system where they "have to" follow the leader, even if that leader is clearly ruining the country (cf. Xi, Putin, Kim, etc.)
After seeing what happened to Li Shangfu, Qin Gang, etc., people like Dong Jun may just want to keep their head down until they can retire or get the hell out of China.
quercetum
Supposedly, a typhoon came and Taiwan (the province that you support as a country) had its Taiwanese citizens evacuate Thitu island for safety reasons. Storm passes but the Filipinos took over the island. Thomas Shoal and others fall under Thitu islands zone.
It’s a dispute between the ROC and the Philippines and the PRC by way of Taiwan.
quercetum
The dumbest move the US ever made in Asia was to give up on Taiwan and withdrawing its bases and missiles there. Had they followed through with ROC,
Mongolia and China Proper would have been US allies and under US control like Japan and the Philippines.
quercetum
I am in favor of a bi-polar instead of a unipolar world. With a tri-polar world you’ll end up with a 2 on 1 (三国志)
When there is only one superpower, the rest of the countries have no choice but to conduct trade in one currency and to follow along the US military adventures. In a bi-polar world, countries have a choice. That's democracy.
Many nations welcome the new bipolar era with the emergence of the Sino-Russian Military Cooperation to keep the US and the West in check. In return the West can also keep China and Russia in check by having smaller nations like Japan and Philippines contributing to the purchase of weapons and hardware as well as hosting military bases and sending forces to regions of conflicts.
This system of checks and balances where Sino-Russian relations and the West keep each other honest is the hallmark of peace.
That will never happen because shifting to a bi-polar world is not the same as taking over and replacing the US in a unipolar world. The U.S. is still there and will be fine.
The USD will continue to be used as the currency for international trade; it just won’t be the only currency for trade as it has been.
Do you mean the billions of Uighurs in the concentration camps? No, they are giving countries and former colonies of the West a choice. The Saudi’s can work with the US and BRICS. Japan can play the US and China like a fiddle instead of being played like a fiddle.
ClippetyClop
Pure nonsense. Maybe you didn't notice that Russia is half way through stealing and murdering an entire country and threatening to use nukes if they aren't allowed to. China is threatening to do pretty much the same.
That's a really good hallmark of peace. You are simping for autocratic nations lead by murderers that wish to expand their frontiers through violent invasions.
isabelle
Except they aren't under US control. You're just parroting the standard CCP propaganda line, as usual.
Next, you generally "defend" [sic] your fanciful position by denying facts and employing some ridiculous sophistry until everyone gets bored and moves on to the next thread.
Except it's nothing to do with democracy at all. Do you even know what the word means?
Except neither of those is true. There's been plenty of trade in various currencies, and many countries friendly to the US have not supported its "military adventures."
The poster likely didn't mean that, because no-one has ever said that billions are in the concentration camps: they've said up to, or over, a million.
Of course, your reality-denying, CCP-sponsored position is to deny the whole affair. Perhaps you would feel different were it your own family and friends.
isabelle
Emperor Xi likes this.
quercetum
We’ve been through before, two years ago. I believe. We just have different views. You see the invasion whereas I see the instigator.
China will not use the bomb as the first strike, only if it is used against China; unlike the U.S. which used the first strike against Japan when the war was over as an experiment according to some historians in the West.
China also will not use nuclear weapons against nations without nuclear weapons, unlike the U.S. which used the A-bomb against a nation without the bomb not to mention using it against civilians. (I know you’re not from the US but am just responding to China’s official position.)
RichardPearce
To the media of the White Bloc, and those immersed in its Orwellian managed reality, it sounds like 'swipes' and 'hypocrisies'.
To the other 2/3rds of the world, it probably sounds more like a sales pitch for a much better world.
quercetum
It’s not annual. Putin has met with Xi over 20-30 times in a year. It may be closer to 40 times a year I can check.
I mean in person and not Zoom sessions.
(I’m tossing you a softball)
quercetum
That should be not annual but overall. Putin meets with Xi more than once a year.
ClippetyClop
I don't recall that, but that doesn't mean we didn't.
Come on. You're a smart fellow. You surely can't believe that Russia's attempted obliteration of Ukraine is the fault of Ukraine? It's ludicrous.
You can't believe that this belligerent bloc of two autocratic nations is actually a positive thing? One of them is actually annexing its neighbour's territory, and the other one is threatening to.
You can't have fallen so far in two years after what has been happening?
nik
Everyone relax. the world will be multipolar. Russia China India will control one part of the world. The United States and its allies will get the second part of the world. If the United States does not agree, then let them prepare for the worst option for them. Bargaining is not appropriate here. The process has begun
ian
Where were the coastguards? They arrest illegal fishermen before
isabelle
India will not be controlling anything with China. It doesn't trust China one inch, and China is currently invading its borders.
And India won't be controlling anything with Russia either, as it knows Russia is a failing state that is fast becoming a Chinese vassal.
I highly doubt it, since the opposite of what you say appears to be happening.
quercetum
They seem to think if Russia India and China uses leverage to control the world, the West will lose and go down or something. Talk about being insecure.
The U.S. can be a strong nation even in bi-polar world with Russia and China as long as it doesn’t over exert itself.
ClippetyClop
No, we'd rather have a world where nations don't invade and annex their neighbours territory and then claim that it makes for a mutually beneficial bipolar world.
You can stick your bipolar world if your half of it thinks that invading and annexing lands makes for a pleasant balance.
Why would you think that a bipolar world needs one half of it invading and seizing land to balance the other that isn't?
HonestDictator
The CCP and Putin's "new world order" that they wish to push only involves them having tyrannical control and power over others. They do not offer any peace, or freedom... Just oppression and serfdom. The people of China that don't buy into CCP indoctrination are very vocal about how trash the CCP is. Putin doesn't have any dignity on the matter either, as he has to arrest any political opposition to his rule (of over 20+ years mind you), and imprisons anyone who speaks out against his invasion of Ukraine.
Oppression and subjugation inspires rebellion. Peace and freedom is what brings prosperity... not what China and Russia has to offer.
quercetum
No, it’s leverage. Like in negotiations. China is fighting an economic war against the U.S. started by the U.S.
There is no new world order but just that the US is no longer the lone superpower. You’ve lost the manufacturing and China controls the supply line plus it’s manufacturing with discounts in Russian energy.
The U.S. accepts that it made mistake in pushing Russia and China together and quicken the emergence of the bi-polar world.
elephant200
The world is witnessing the tragedies of the Palestinian people. The whole conflict was enabled by America providing weapons and ammunition to Israel that lead to a whole year of huge innocent civilian casualties. China and Russia has obligations to help the countries who don't want to be an ally of America can stand up and voicing to against and unjust world order orchestra by the West. By the way, a NATO country "Turkey" is very wiling yo join the BRICS. It is a very big havoc to NATO if one of their strategic ally has dual membership to help against their own alliance. Oh I forgot to tell you, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very interested a closer relation with China. Many countries in Middle East were frustrated by America's unfair and hypocrisy or a whole year!
TaiwanIsNotChina
It's surprising to you that Taiwan can't make changes to its foreign policy given the 1.4 billion kg gorilla looming over them?
TaiwanIsNotChina
Sounds like meddling in other countries' affairs to me.
Turkey can join what investment clubs it likes without a problem.
Just like in Pokemon, China has to catch all the dictatorships.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Russia's not a pole and India isn't your ally. I suppose Russia can be the new mining colony for the Chinese.
RichardPearce
A lineup of countries to join BRICS, the NATO backed Azovians trying unsuccessfully to hold onto Ukraine, the White Bloc backed 'opposition' in Venezuela not even able to muster a riot over losing, again (if you're sick of Trump's bogus claims to have after one electoral cycle, you can just begin to grasp how sick Venezuelans are heading into the FOURTH cycle of 'dispute' by those who had zero evidence the first 3 times) America's pet right wingers in Honduras getting slapped by the population putting Zelaya's wife in the Presidency
That's the world we're living in, though it looks like some people are living in a world of alternate facts
Underworld
quercetum
The CCP and Putin's "new world order" that they wish to push only involves them having tyrannical control and power over others. They do not offer any peace, or freedom...
So Putin's imperialistic war of aggression against Ukraine... is leverage? Since when did we call violence... leverage?
TaiwanIsNotChina
The 100% UN recognized government of Zelenskyy retains 4/5ths of Ukraine.
I guess the US will have to satisfy itself with 95% of Latin America not being on Team Dictatorship.
Yes, some people are living in the world where we didn't have the worst aggression in 70 years on peaceful Ukraine.
RichardPearce
Oh, I agree, over a decade of Azovian attacks on Ukrainians (and now Russians) has been the worst aggression in 70 years, maybe even since the previous German backed Azovian aggression against Ukrainians and Russians.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Meanwhile, in the world outside of Russia, people don't consider Javelins and training to be the worst aggression in 70 years.
RichardPearce
But outside the White Bloc, the American habit of overthrowing democratic governments, then arming the resulting regime and deeming the violent oppression that regime uses to stay in power 'democracy' is looked on as being aggression
TaiwanIsNotChina
Yes the China/Russia bloc would like to argue that interesting phone calls and sanctions are aggression. Adult countries require more proof.
lincolnman
Humma, humma...
Send them both a couple of presents;
Putin a picture of his flagship Moskva - now at the bottom of the Black Sea...
And Xi the complete set of Winnie the Pooh books...
TaiwanIsNotChina
100% of the dictatorships the US supports today are in the ME. Clearly we are not doing enough to support them as they support Russia/China.
lincolnman
Best meme of the week....
Taylor Swift endorses Harris…
Trump complains he was Swift-boated…