China feels the heat at Shangri-La Dialogue For a second day in a row, China bore the brunt of criticism from speakers at the 13th annual #Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The forum is hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies and, according to their official website, aims to “promote the adoption of sound policies to further global peace and security and maintain civilized international relations.” #Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressed the opening of the forum and left little doubt about where his remarks were directed. In his speech, the Prime Minister implicitly criticized China for not respecting international laws and showed his determination to strengthen Japan’s ties with the United States and ASEAN, to deal with China’s rise as a Pacific power. In perhaps his most direct broadside, the Japanese Prime Minister formally offered the Philippine coast guard the use of 10 patrol boats, and announced that moves were underway to provide similar vessels to Vietnam. #Chinese scholars in attendance were skeptical of Mr. Abe’s remarks with many believing that Abe’s speech was a veiled attack, carefully calibrated to escalate the war of words between the two nations. Abe is going against the spirit of peace that is fundamental to international law by using it as an excuse to move in the opposite direction, said Xu Qiyu, a senior researcher with the National Defense University of the Peoples Liberation Army. On Saturday, it was the United States’ turn, and US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was blunt. “#China has called the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation and that’s what it should be,” he said, adding that, “In recent months, China has undertaken destabilizing, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea. China responded forcefully to the accusation with Wang Guanzhong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese PLA, saying that Hagel’s speech demonstrated US hegemony and was filled with instigation, threat & intimidation. Wang is expected to address the summit on Sunday. For expert analysis, watch this CCTV NEWS exclusive interview with Kishore Mahbubani, the Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. https://youtube/watch?v=jnBmPIneHsI
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 14:00:01 +0000
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