BEIJING — Russia’s protection minister accused america on Monday of fueling geopolitical tensions to uphold its “international dominance by any means” and warned of the danger of confrontation between nuclear-armed international locations.
Talking at a protection discussion board in Beijing, Sergei Shoigu additionally accused NATO of attempting to broaden its footprint within the Asia-Pacific beneath the pretense of in search of dialogue and collaboration with regional international locations.
“Washington for years has intentionally undermined and destroyed the foundations of worldwide safety and strategic stability, together with the system of arms management agreements,” Shoigu mentioned on the Xiangshan Discussion board, China’s largest annual occasion centered on navy diplomacy.
He added that the U.S. and its Western allies are threatening Russia by means of NATO’s growth “to the east.” Shoigu additionally reiterated Moscow’s stance that Russia was open to negotiations concerning the struggle in Ukraine beneath what he described as the precise circumstances.
“The Western line of regular escalation of the battle with Russia carries the specter of a direct navy conflict between nuclear powers, which is fraught with catastrophic penalties,” he mentioned.
Shoigu’s speech adopted that of Zhang Youxia, China’s second-ranking navy official and vice chairman of the Central Army Fee, who opened the three-day occasion within the absence of former protection minister Gen. Li Shangfu, who would have usually hosted the occasion.
Li was faraway from his place final week after a two-month absence from public view. The federal government has not offered any cause for his elimination.
The Beijing occasion, attended by navy representatives from dozens of nations, is an event for China to venture regional management and increase navy cooperation. The U.S. is represented by a delegation led by Xanthi Carras, the Protection Division’s main official on China.
Zhang mentioned China was “prepared to develop navy ties with the U.S. on the idea of mutual respect, peaceable coexistence and win-win cooperation.”
China suspended navy communication with the U.S. in August 2022 to point out its displeasure over a go to by former U.S. Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi to self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing considers a part of its territory.
With out straight naming the U.S., Zhang criticized “sure international locations” that “hold stirring up troubles world wide.”
He additionally urged for “an instantaneous cease-fire” within the newest Israel-Hamas struggle, sparked by the Palestinian militant group’s lethal Oct. 7 incursion into southern Israel, and referred to as for a “resumption of peace talks” between Israel and the Palestinians.
China claims it is impartial in Russia’s struggle on Ukraine however maintains shut ties with Russia, with frequent state visits and joint navy drills between the 2 nations. It has equally sought to venture a mediator function within the Israel-Hamas struggle, although specialists say Beijing’s affect within the battle is restricted.
Zhang reiterated threats by the Chinese language authorities relating to any efforts towards Taiwan’s independence, saying that “regardless of who tries to separate Taiwan from China in any kind, China and the Chinese language navy won’t ever enable that to occur.”
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Related Press author Jim Heintz in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.