China says US strategy fuels tensions in Asia at Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

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.