China proposes new security forum<\/p>\n
Cindy Sui, Agence France-Presse, Phnom Penh<\/p>\n
China proposed on Wednesday the creation of a security forum
\ninvolving military personnel from Asia-Pacific countries, saying
\nit would aim at giving equal attention to the security concerns
\nof each country involved.<\/p>\n
The move proposed to ministers and officials meeting here for
\nthe ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) appears to be an attempt at
\ncountering the United States' growing pursuit of counter-
\nterrorism and other security-related pacts with ASEAN.<\/p>\n
China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told the annual ARF
\nmeeting in Phnom Penh that China wanted increased participation
\nby defense officials in ARF via the creation of a \"Security
\nPolicy Conference\" under the ARF umbrella.<\/p>\n
\"This will greatly enhance mutual trust among countries and
\ncontribute to regional peace and stability,\" Li told the 23-
\nmember ARF.<\/p>\n
\"In this context, China suggests that the ARF could convene a
\nSecurity Policy Conference at an appropriate time to be attended
\nmainly by military personnel.\"<\/p>\n
No date was suggested on when such a gathering -- which would
\nprop up China's goal of balancing U.S. dominance in world affairs
\n-- should be held.<\/p>\n
The proposal comes as Washington aggressively pushes for ASEAN
\ncountries to back its policies on troubling issues such as North
\nKorea, Myanmar and counterterrorism.<\/p>\n
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue later told reporters
\nthat the proposal formed part of a new security concept China has
\nbeen promoting for years.<\/p>\n
Taking a veiled swipe at the U.S.'s pursuit of national
\nsecurity, Zhang charged that some countries were focusing only on
\ntheir security interests and the new concept would instead give
\nplay to everyone's concerns.<\/p>\n
\"An interesting point of this security concept is guaranteeing
\none's own security interests through everyone's common security,\"
\nZhang said.<\/p>\n
\"We shouldn't try to achieve absolute security for oneself and
\nthreaten other parties' security. That actually doesn't
\nnecessarily guarantee one's own security.\"<\/p>\n
U.S. plans to build a missile defense system have particularly
\nirked China, which sees it as potentially provoking a global arms
\nrace.<\/p>\n
Beijing fears such a system could be expanded to shield its
\narchrival Taiwan, for whom Washington already provides military
\nsupport.<\/p>\n
That would seriously challenge China's ability to reunite with
\nthe island, which Beijing insists must happen eventually, by
\nforce if necessary, despite the fact Taiwan separated from the
\nmainland at the end of a civil war in 1949.<\/p>\n
Beijing has also insisted its ally North Korea has legitimate
\nsecurity concerns, such as being attacked by the United States,
\nand that those concerns should be addressed as well as
\nWashington's demands that Pyongyang give up its nuclear weapons
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
Its proposed new conference would give all countries an
\nopportunity to present their concerns and thereby reduce tensions
\nthrough dialog, Zhang said.<\/p>\n
China said it was also necessary to have a platform to discuss
\nsecurity issues given increasing non-traditional security threats
\nsuch as terrorism.<\/p>\n
Li urged ARF members to \"eliminate\" the threat of terrorists
\nand religious extremists, and reiterated China's claims that
\npeople fighting for independence in certain countries also should
\nbe targeted.<\/p>\n
\"Local separatist forces in some countries are equally
\ndetrimental to stability. China firmly supports other countries
\nin this region in their endeavors to safeguard national
\nunification and combat separatism,\" Li said.<\/p>\n
China wants other countries' support in its crackdown against
\nethnic Uighur Muslim separatists who have pushed for an
\nindependent state in its western Xinjiang region.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-proposes-new-security-forum-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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