“It is unclear what the so-called rules-based international order is and who sets these rules. It practices exceptionalism and double standards, and only serves the interests and rules of a few countries,” Mr. Lee said at the 2023 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, without naming the United States or its partners.
According to the South China Morning Post , Mr. Li's first speech at the forum highlighted China's Global Security Initiative. The Global Security Initiative (GSI) was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in April last year, with the core principle of defining priorities, platforms and cooperation mechanisms.
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu was one of the keynote speakers at this year's Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Photo: IISS
“China believes that the key to harmonious coexistence among countries is mutual respect and equal treatment,” Mr. Li said. “We firmly oppose imposing our will on others, putting our own interests above those of others, and pursuing our own security at the expense of others.”
China's defense minister said some unspecified countries had "deliberately interfered in the internal affairs of other countries." He said international issues should be resolved by all countries in a cooperative manner. "It is natural for countries to have disagreements. China is committed to maintaining peace in handling international crises," he said.
Regarding the US-China relationship, he commented: “A better US-China relationship should be based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation.” “The US-China relationship weighs heavily on global stability. A bilateral conflict would be a disaster for the world . We have different cultures and ideas, but we need to find common ground to stabilize the relationship,” Mr. Lee said.
According to the South China Morning Post , China has accused the US of using sanctions without UN approval. However, according to the newspaper, Beijing has also imposed informal retaliatory trade embargoes on Australia, Canada, Lithuania, South Korea and Taiwan.
Faced with the complex security situation in the Asia- Pacific , China is willing to "build greater security partnerships and confidence-building measures, moving toward a multilateral security mechanism that is widely accepted, fair and equal."
In his June 4 speech, Mr. Li reiterated Beijing's stance on Taiwan, saying the island is "China's core interest" and an internal matter for China.
On the Ukraine issue, Mr. Li defended China's push for talks to help end the conflict in Ukraine, calling Beijing's position "objective and impartial."
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