China’s Vice-Foreign Minister Le Yucheng on Saturday said that the US’s current Indo-Pacific strategy of forming closed groups or blocs (such as Quad) leading to the region’s fragmentation is as dangerous a trend as NATO’s eastward expansion in Europe.
“Going against the trend to pursue the Indo-Pacific strategy, provoke trouble, put together closed and exclusive small circles or groups, and get the region off course toward fragmentation and bloc-based division is as dangerous as the NATO strategy of eastward expansion in Europe,” the Vice-Minister said at the Fourth International Forum on Security and Strategy hosted by the Center for International Security and Strategy in Beijing.
He also warned that should such fragmentation go unchecked, it will result in “unimaginable consequences” as well as push the region “over the edge of an abyss”.
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He further remarked that the Ukraine crisis allows the countries in the Indo-Pacific an opportunity for reflection and choose between two alternatives, i.e., either we build an “open and inclusive” region for all or indulge in a cold-war mentality resulting in confrontation of opposite blocs.
“No country should pursue its so-called absolute security at the expense of other countries’ security… We must respect each other and not wantonly interfere in others’ internal affairs… Imposition or interference in others’ internal affairs should be rejected, and there is no need for ‘saviours’ or ‘lecturers,” he further said.
Earlier this month, Chinese FM Wang Yi equated Quad with Five Eyes (an intelligence alliance which included Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US and the UK) and linked it to the American goal of establishing an Indo-Pacific version of NATO.
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FM Wang earlier this month said that New Delhi and Beijing must stop “draining each other’s energies” and work together to accomplish respective economic and social goals.
He also said that there are “forces” which have attempted to drive a wedge between India and China.
Le Yucheng served as the Chinese Ambassador to India from 2014-2016.
