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Chinese Defense Minister General Li Shangfu warned that a war between his country and the United States would bring unbearable disaster to the world. Photo/Video screenshot of Al Jazeera
SINGAPORE – Defense Minister China General Li Shangfu declared war between his country and United States of America (US) will bring an unbearable disaster to the world.
General Li delivered the dangerous warning during Asia’s highest security summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore on Sunday.
He said the world is big enough for Beijing and Washington to grow together.
“China and the US have different systems and differ in many other ways,” he said in a speech that marked his first major international speech since he was appointed defense secretary in March.
“However, this should not prevent both sides from seeking common ground and common interests to grow bilateral relations and deepen cooperation,” he explained.
“It is undeniable that a severe conflict or confrontation between China and the US will be an unbearable disaster for the world,” he added, as quoted by Al Jazeera, Monday (5/6/2023).
Relations between Washington and Beijing have been extremely strained over a range of issues, including democratically self-governing Taiwan, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and US President Joe Biden’s curbs on semiconductor chip exports.
In their latest spat, the US military on Saturday accused the Chinese Navy of maneuvering unsafely near an American destroyer through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, while Beijing accused Washington of provoking risks and undermining peace and stability in the region by encouraging “pro-independence forces to in Taipei.
Earlier that day, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told a meeting in Singapore that Washington was deeply committed to maintaining the status quo on self-governing Taiwan – yet claimed by Beijing as its territory.
