NOW: China Defense Minister Wei Fenghe delivers address during first plenary session of last day of Shangri-La Dialogue 2022.
He says China is here for ‘friendship, cooperation… regional peace and stability.’ #SLD22
WATCH: youtu.be/qcKmMAcGDBo
Conversation
Defense Minister Wei responds to US defense chief Lloyd Austin’s speech yesterday, says he ‘firmly rejects US smearing accusations,’ thinks US Indo-Pacific strategy is ‘strategy to hijack countries in our region and target one country.’
3
3
3
Defense Minister Wei says ‘China will never seek hegemony,’ occupy territory of others’ or invade another country.
Yet China has built structures on features in the West Philippine Sea, within Philippines’ EEZ. A 2016 arbitral ruling said China’s island-building is illegal.
1
6
14
Wei says China wants ‘peaceful reunification’ with Taiwan, warns anyone who supports Taiwan independence.
‘If anyone dares to secede Taiwan from China, we will not hesitate to fight… This is the only choice for China.’
1
4
3
General Wei, China defense minister, says China ‘has never provided any material support to Russia’ in relation to Ukraine conflict.
China has not condemned Russian invasion in Ukraine, opposes sanctions on Russia and wants ‘peace talks’ instead.