19-09-25, 03:41 PM
China’s defence minister summoned familiar talking points as he took aim at Western nations during a security conference on Thursday, urging nations to stand up against “bullying” and describing military alliances as groups with “selfish interests”.
Dong Jun did not name any country but his calls appeared to resonate with defence chiefs from Southeast Asia, as they took turns criticising unilateral action, including tariffs, and calling for greater efforts to advance multilateralism.
Dong launched his roughly half-hour address at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum by warning about the uncertain state of the international environment, cautioning that the world was undergoing rapid changes and “overshadowed by a cold war mentality, hegemonism and protectionism”.
He urged countries to cooperate to defend the post-war order and – in a veiled reference to the United States – to stand up against “disguised hegemonic logic and bullying acts”.
“Today, the world is standing at another crossroads: peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum. We must make the just and right choice,” he said, echoing remarks made by President Xi Jinping at the country’s Victory Day military parade earlier this month.
In a swipe at Western-led groups, Dong framed military alliances and political blocs as “small, exclusive groups that serve hegemonic and selfish interests”, adding that such groups “carve up interests together”.
Dong Jun did not name any country but his calls appeared to resonate with defence chiefs from Southeast Asia, as they took turns criticising unilateral action, including tariffs, and calling for greater efforts to advance multilateralism.
Dong launched his roughly half-hour address at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum by warning about the uncertain state of the international environment, cautioning that the world was undergoing rapid changes and “overshadowed by a cold war mentality, hegemonism and protectionism”.
He urged countries to cooperate to defend the post-war order and – in a veiled reference to the United States – to stand up against “disguised hegemonic logic and bullying acts”.
“Today, the world is standing at another crossroads: peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum. We must make the just and right choice,” he said, echoing remarks made by President Xi Jinping at the country’s Victory Day military parade earlier this month.
In a swipe at Western-led groups, Dong framed military alliances and political blocs as “small, exclusive groups that serve hegemonic and selfish interests”, adding that such groups “carve up interests together”.