Current:Home > reviewsChina's defense minister defends intercepting U.S. destroyer in Taiwan Strait -BeyondProfit Compass
China's defense minister defends intercepting U.S. destroyer in Taiwan Strait
View
Date:2025-04-12 17:10:10
China's defense minister defended sailing a warship across the path of an American destroyer and Canadian frigate transiting the Taiwan Strait, telling a gathering of some of the world's top defense officials in Singapore on Sunday that such "freedom of navigation" patrols are a provocation to China.
The Chinese warship intercepted the USS Chung-Hoon and the HMCS Montreal on Saturday as they transited the strait between the self-governed island of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, and mainland China. The Chinese vessel overtook the American ship and then veered across its bow at a distance of 150 yards in an "unsafe manner," according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
The U.S. guided-missile destroyer slowed to 10 knots to avoid a collision, the command said in a statement.
In his first international public address since becoming defense minister in March, Gen. Li Shangfu told the Shangri-La Dialogue that China doesn't have any problems with "innocent passage" but that "we must prevent attempts that try to use those freedom of navigation (patrols), that innocent passage, to exercise hegemony of navigation."
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the same forum Saturday that Washington would not "flinch in the face of bullying or coercion" from China and would continue regularly sailing through and flying over the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea to emphasize they are international waters, countering Beijing's sweeping territorial claims.
The U.S. has said a Chinese J-16 fighter jet late last month "performed an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" while intercepting a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea, flying directly in front of the plane's nose.
Those and previous incidents have raised concerns of a possible accident occurring that could lead to an escalation between the two nations at a time when tensions are already high.
Li suggested the U.S. and its allies had created the danger, and should instead should focus on taking "good care of your own territorial airspace and waters."
"The best way is for the countries, especially the naval vessels and fighter jets of countries, not to do closing actions around other countries' territories," he said through an interpreter. "What's the point of going there? In China we always say, 'Mind your own business.'"
In a wide-ranging speech, Li reiterated many of Beijing's well-known positions, including its claim on Taiwan, calling it "the core of our core interests."
He accused the U.S. and others of "meddling in China's internal affairs" by providing Taiwan with defense support and training, and conducting high-level diplomatic visits.
"China stays committed to the path of peaceful development, but we will never hesitate to defend our legitimate rights and interests, let alone sacrifice the nation's core interests," he said.
"As the lyrics of a well-known Chinese song go: 'When friends visit us, we welcome them with fine wine. When jackals or wolves come, we will face them with shotguns.'"
In his speech the previous day, Austin broadly outlined the U.S. vision for a "free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific within a world of rules and rights."
In the pursuit of such, Austin said the U.S. was stepping up planning, coordination and training with "friends from the East China Sea to the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean" with shared goals "to deter aggression and to deepen the rules and norms that promote prosperity and prevent conflict."
Li scoffed at the notion, saying "some country takes a selective approach to rules and international laws."
"It likes forcing its own rules on others," he said. "Its so-called rules-based international order never tells you what the rules are and who made these rules."
By contrast, he said, "we practice multilateralism and pursue win-win cooperation."
Li is under American sanctions that are part of a broad package of measures against Russia — but predate its invasion of Ukraine — that were imposed in 2018 over Li's involvement in China's purchase of combat aircraft and anti-aircraft missiles from Moscow.
The sanctions, which broadly prevent Li from doing business in the United States, do not prevent him from holding official talks, American defense officials have said.
Still, he refused Austin's invitation to talk on the sidelines of the conference, though the two did shake hands before sitting down at opposite sides of the same table together as the forum opened Friday.
Austin said that was not enough.
"A cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantive engagement," Austin said.
The U.S. has noted that since 2021 — well before Li became defense minister — China has declined or failed to respond to more than a dozen requests from the U.S. Defense Department to talk with senior leaders, as well as multiple requests for standing dialogues and working-level engagements.
Li said that "China is open to communications between our two countries and also between our two militaries," but without mentioning the sanctions, said exchanges had to be "based on mutual respect."
"That is a very fundamental principle," he said. "If we do not even have mutual respect, then our communications will not be productive."
He said that he recognized that any "severe conflict or confrontation between China and the U.S. will be an unbearable disaster for the world," and that the two countries need to find ways to improve relations, saying they were "at a record low."
"History has proven time and again that both China and the United States will benefit from cooperation and lose from confrontation," he said.
"China seeks to develop a new type of major-country relationship with the United States. As for the U.S. side, it needs to act with sincerity, match its words with deeds, and take concrete actions together with China to stabilize the relations and prevent further deterioration," Li said.
- In:
- Taiwan
- U.S. Navy
- Lloyd Austin
- China
veryGood! (427)
Related
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- Restock Alert: The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
- Drought is driving elephants closer to people. The consequences can be deadly
- First Aid Beauty Buy 1, Get 1 Free Deal: Find Out Why the Ultra Repair Cream Exceeds the Hype
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Why climate change may be driving more infectious diseases
- Federal judges deal the oil industry another setback in climate litigation
- How Vanessa Hudgens Became Coachella's Must-See Style Star
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Homelessness is aggravating harm caused by the Phoenix heat, medical personnel say
Ranking
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Why Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’ Kids Have Them Blocked on Social Media
- California is poised to phase out sales of new gas-powered cars
- Florals For Spring That Are Groundbreaking, Thank You Very Much
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- This $13 Pack of Genius Scrunchies on Amazon Can Hide Cash, Lip Balm, Crystals, and So Much More
- North West Makes Surprise Appearance Onstage at Katy Perry Concert in Las Vegas
- This Montana couple built their dream home, only to have it burn down in minutes
Recommendation
Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
War in Ukraine is driving demand for Africa's natural gas. That's controversial
Trader Joe’s recalls cookies that could contain rocks: ‘Please do not eat them’
In Oklahoma, former Republican Joy Hofmeister will face Gov. Kevin Stitt in November
Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
Mary Peltola, the first Alaska Native heading to Congress, journeys home to the river
The Best Crease-Free, Dent-Free Scrunchies That Are Gentle on Hair in Honor of National Scrunchie Day
How Vanessa Hudgens Knew Cole Tucker Was the One to Marry