Beijing accuses Taipei, Manila and Washington of escalating tensions in the region

Admiral Dong Jun, China’s Minister of National Defence, speaking at the fifth plenary session of the Shangri-La Dialogue on June 2. - ST

SINGAPORE: Anyone who dares split Taiwan from China will be “crushed to pieces” and destroyed, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun told an international audience, using strong language to assert Beijing’s claim on Taiwan and warning against interference by the United States.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Admiral Dong blamed Taiwan’s ruling party, the independence-leaning Democratic People’s Party (DPP), and the Philippines for tensions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea respectively.