BEIJING — Russian Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu mentioned Monday america is fueling geopolitical tensions to uphold its “hegemony” and warned of the chance of confrontation between main international locations.
Talking at a protection discussion board in Beijing, Shoigu additionally mentioned the U.S. and its Asia-Pacific allies are undermining stability within the area.
“To keep up its geopolitical and strategic dominance, america is intentionally undermining the premise of worldwide safety and strategic stability,” Shoigu mentioned, in keeping with a simultaneous translation supplied on the Xiangshan Discussion board, which China’s largest annual occasion centered on army diplomacy.
He added that the U.S. and its Western allies are threatening Russia by NATO’s “eastward growth.”
“Western international locations purpose to escalate the battle with Russia and enhance the chance of main nation confrontation,” he mentioned. “It will result in severe penalties.”
Turning to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, Shoigu mentioned Moscow was open to negotiations “if situations are proper.”
Shoigu spoke instantly after Zhang Youxia, China’s second-ranking army official and vice chairman of the Central Army Fee.
Zhang opened the three-day occasion within the absence of Gen. Li Shangfu, who was eliminated as China’s protection minister final week after a two-month absence from public view. The Chinese language authorities didn’t say why Li, who would have hosted the discussion board, was eliminated.
Army representatives from dozens of nations are attending the occasion, which is an event for Beijing to underscore army cooperation with different nations and mission regional management.
The U.S. is represented by a delegation led by Xanthi Carras, the Protection Division’s principal official for points associated to China.
Zhang mentioned China was “prepared to develop army ties with the U.S. on the premise of mutual respect, peaceable coexistence and win-win cooperation.”
China suspended army communication with the U.S. in August 2022 to point out its displeasure over a go to by former U.S. Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi to self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing considers a part of its territory.
With out instantly naming the U.S., Zhang criticized “sure international locations” that “hold stirring up troubles all over the world.”
“They intentionally create turbulences, meddle in regional affairs, intervene in different international locations’ inside affairs and instigate coloration revolutions.” Such international locations “give gasoline to the disputes by offering weapons and launching proxy wars” and “all the time unfairly assist one facet” in regional disputes, he added.
Zhang referred to as for “a political settlement on the Ukraine disaster” and “an instantaneous ceasefire and cease of violence by events within the Israeli-Palestinian battle and an early resumption of peace talks.”
China maintains that it’s impartial within the Ukraine conflict, however it favors Russia in observe, with frequent state visits and joint army drills between the 2 nations.
It equally desires to mission a mediator function within the Israel-Hamas conflict, although specialists say Beijing’s affect within the battle is restricted.
Zhang reiterated threats by the Chinese language authorities concerning any efforts towards Taiwan’s independence, saying that “irrespective of who tries to separate Taiwan from China in any type, China and the Chinese language army won’t ever enable that to occur and can by no means be comfortable on them.”