At a meeting in Qingdao on Monday, a high-ranking Chinese military official emphasised that China is committed to resolving maritime disputes through dialogue, but will not allow itself to be “abused.”
The sea should not be an arena where countries can flex their “gunboat muscles”, added Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and China’s second-highest-ranking military official.
“Reality has shown that those who make deliberate provocations, stoke tensions, or support one side against another for selfish gains will ultimately only hurt themselves,” Zhang said during the opening ceremony of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium at the upscale St Regis hotel.
The comments were an apparent reference to growing tensions in the South China Sea, where Washington treaty ally Manila is in a fraught standoff with Beijing over the strategic waterway, a potential flashpoint for U.S-China relations.
Zhang also told the gathered delegates that “carrying out maritime containment, encirclement and island blockades will only plunge the world into a vortex of division and turbulence.”
Tensions are particularly high around the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, where Manila has accused Beijing of “harassment”, including the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels.
The symposium is a rare opportunity for countries with opposing regional interests to exchange views. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler is attending from the United States. Other delegations include Australia, France, India, Russia and Britain.
The Philippines did not attend despite being a member nation of the forum.
“This is a very good opportunity to hold bilateral talks with each navy – not only on AUKUS, but on broader maritime topics,” said Captain Takuo Kobayashi, a senior official with the Japanese naval delegation. “The Chinese Navy is building up their muscles in the South China Sea quickly, so I’m paying a lot of attention to the Chinese Navy’s developments.”
Participants will engage in private discussions on matters including the revision of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, which are guidelines designed to reduce tensions between naval forces. Additionally, they will vote on establishing a new working group focused on unmanned systems, with the People’s Liberation Army Navy leading the coordination, as outlined in the forum’s agenda.
With Inputs From Reuters
