China's State Councilor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe speaks at a plenary session during the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, on Sunday, June 12, 2022. - Reuters
SINGAPORE, June 12 (Bloomberg): Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe warned that the US’s Indo-Pacific strategy was pushing the two sides toward confrontation, criticizing his American counterpart’s attempt to rally the region around Washington’s vision.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin called for an Asia that is free of "aggression and bullying,” targeting China as he laid out America’s vision for the region to security leaders in a defense forum.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy cast the war in Ukraine as threat to the global order, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin had treated the country as a colony.
Both the US and China are using the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue to drum up support for their competing visions for regional stability, even as Ukraine consumes Washington’s attention and Beijing struggles with economic pressures at home.
Asia-Pacific defense chiefs warned of widespread security fall out from the war in Ukraine, raising new questions ranging from China’s intentions in the region to concerns about food supplies and climate change.
Other Key Developments
Netherlands Says US-China Dialog of Utmost Importance (10:32 a.m.)
Netherlands Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren said the speech by China’s defense chief Wei Fenghe showed that dialog was more important.
She said US and China having talks is of the utmost importance, adding that the European Union valued discussions with Beijing.
World Divided on Basis of Who is Committed to Rules-Based Order, Sedwill Says (10:15 a.m.)
The dividing line for countries is not between democracies and autocracies but rather on those who share a commitment to rules-based global order and those who do not, said Mark Sedwill, a former UK cabinet secretary.
He said the UK will increase its military presence in Asia.
South Korea Says Bilateral Issues With Japan Remain Unresolved (9:51 a.m.)
South Korea National Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said bilateral issues with Japan remain unresolved. The country intends to engage in serious dialog with Japan.
Read more: Japan, South Korea Look to Repair Ties Ahead of Biden Visit
Lee said assessments show that North Korea has completed preparations for the nuclear test.
China Criticizes US Plans for Indo-Pacific Plans (8:45 a.m.)
Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe warned that the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy was pushing the world’s two largest economies toward confrontation.
"To us, the strategy is an attempt to build an exclusive small group in the name of a free and open Indo-Pacific, to hijack countries in our region and target one specific country,” Wei said in a roughly 30-minute speech. "It is a strategy to create conflict and confrontation to contain and encircle others.”
US Navy Commander Blames China, Russia and North Korea for Global Instability (6:05 p.m. - June 12)
The US’s top commander in the Pacific said he believed the world was experiencing "potentially the most dangerous period” since World War Two, and urged greater measures to prevent miscalculation and miscommunication. Admiral John Aquilino blamed China’s "destabilizing actions” and "failure to respect agreements” in Hong Kong and disputes on the Indian border, alongside Russia and North Korea for contributing to global instability.
"These aggressive behaviors are escalating tensions,” the Indo-Pacific Command chief said. "They’re increasing the potential for miscalculation, and hence the topic of crisis communications is completely relevant based on that security environment.”
Germany Says Ukraine War Fueling Environmental Damage (5:40 p.m.)
The Russian war in Ukraine is threatening to cause environmental damage to the tune of billions of euros, said Tobias Lindner, Germany’s Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office.
"We have talked about the security risks of climate change, but there is also climate risk that comes from war,” he said in a special session on climate security and green defense.
Lindner said some the risks from the war include near strikes on nuclear plants and toxic waste in the Sea of Azov.
Malaysia Wants Transparent Assessments on Myanmar (5:32 p.m.)
Malaysia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, a vocal critic of Myanmar’s military regime, said there should be transparent assessments on situation in the country.
He also wanted to see more regional initiatives to protect civilians, especially the mostly-Muslim Rohingya people.
The situation in Myanmar remains a top priority for the Biden administration, Department of State Counselor Derek Chollet said. The US is seeking to support democracy and put pressure on military forces, he added.
Ukraine Leader Quotes Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew in Russia Criticism (4:32 p.m.)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed defense officials via video link, evoking the words of the late Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew while he criticized Russia for trying to dismantle the international order.
"I want to remind you of the words of a person whom you know very well -- if there had been no international law, and the big fish ate the small fish and the small fish ate shrimps, we would not have existed,’ he said.
"These are the wise words of Lee Kuan Yew, the leader who was perspicacious enough to see the clear reasons of many things and resources, and who knew exactly what is of value,” he added.
Cambodia Won’t Allow a Foreign Military Base (3:30 p.m.)
Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh said Cambodia is "constantly accused” of having given exclusive rights to the foreigners to use Ream naval base, referring to recent reports that China will be building a secret military facility.
It’s a "problematic accusation” and a complete insult to Cambodia’s authority, said Tea Banh, who is also the defense minister. "The development of this space is not a threat to the security of any country or region whether near or far.”
There should be no surprise that Cambodia cooperates with the People’s Liberation Army, Tea Banh said. The Southeast Asian country reserves the right to receive foreign assistance in the form of military equipment, training of its armed force and other aid for self defense, he said.
US Official Sees Asian Countries Examining Ties with Russia (2:57 p.m.)
Southeast Asian nations with long-standing ties with Russia and who have hesitated to pick sides over Ukraine are increasingly questioning the value of that relationship as the war drags on, US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said.
He said recent talks with Asian leaders have revealed new doubts among nations that officially maintain non-alignment in the war.
Australia Says Climate Change To Drive Key Policies (12:20 p.m.)
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said climate change will now factor in the country’s defense planning and diplomacy.
"People’s lives and livelihoods are increasingly at risk,” said Marles, who is also the minister of defense. "And this in turn, will give rise to new security challenges.
Marles said Australia’s approach to Beijing will be "steady and consistent,” looking for avenues of cooperation where they exist while recognizing China’s growing power and the manner in which that is shaping the region.
"It is reasonable to expect China make clear it does not support the invasion of a sovereign state in violation of the UN Charter to China’s own long standing principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
Singapore Seeks Peaceful Resolution for Sea Territorial Disputes (11:45 a.m.)
Singapore hopes all parties will "exercise restraint and maintain dialogue” on situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea in order to preserve regional peace and stability, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said after a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.
"The issues are complex and unlikely to resolve soon, but they should continue to be managed peacefully in accordance with international law,” he said.
Malaysia Flags Soaring Food Prices as a Security Threat (11:40 a.m.)
Malaysia’s Senior Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said current security threats facing the region are "no longer confined to political factors, they descend to economic considerations.”
The combination of unhappiness from two years of the pandemic and rising food prices have already seen a wave of political instability in countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he said.
"Food security is critical to peace and stability,” Hishammuddin said, adding there was a window of opportunity now to strengthen regional groups,
France Defends Muted European Presence at Forum (10:43 a.m.)
French defense chief Sebastien Lecornu sought to allay concerns that Europe was too distracted with the war in Ukraine to pay attention to Asia-Pacific developments.
"Sometimes people fear and say that the crisis in Europe and Ukraine might take us away from the Indo-Pacific or might that lead to the French Republic to cut back on some important commitments, even military commitments,” Lecornu said. "This will not be the case.” - Bloomberg
