China warns against ‘Ukraine-style crisis’ in Asia

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Tuesday warned against a “Ukraine-style” crisis in Asia, urging unity in the face of difficulties in "pursuing" security and development.

Foreign Minister Qin Gang said at his maiden news conference: “Asia should be a stage for win-win cooperation rather than a chessboard for the geopolitical contest. No Cold War should be reignited, and no Ukraine-style crisis should be repeated in Asia.”

Qin was elevated as foreign minister last December, succeeding Wang Yi, who has been promoted to chief of the Communist Party’s foreign affairs.

“As for who to rely on in terms of security and economy, I believe it is necessary to stand together in face of difficulties, jointly pursue security and development, and work together to build a closer community with a shared future in the neighborhood,” Qin said, according to the transcript released by the ministry.

- ‘US strategy on Asia to undermine regional integration’

Qin said the US “Indo-Pacific Strategy” is in fact an “attempt to gang up to form exclusive blocs, to provoke a confrontation by plotting an Asia-Pacific version of NATO.”
Its goal is to “undermine regional integration through decoupling and cutting chains,” he alleged.

“The US claim to ‘shape the strategic environment in which China operates’ actually reveals the real purpose of its Indo-Pacific Strategy, that is to encircle China,” Qin claimed.

He said the Chinese people will “never accept any form of historical revisionism that challenges the post-war international order and international justice.”

“We will take multilateralism as the way forward. We will promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, promote greater democracy in international relations, and make global governance more just and equitable,” said the Chinese foreign minister.

- ‘Ukraine crisis not China’s making’
In response to a question about the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, Qin said the crisis has reached a "critical juncture."

“Either hostilities stop and peace is restored and the process of political settlement begins, or more fuel is added to the flames and the crisis further expands and spirals out of control,” he warned, adding that the crisis is not created by China.

“Conflict, sanctions and pressure will not solve the problem. What is needed is calmness, reason and dialogue,” he stressed, calling for “peace talks as soon as possible.”

Legitimate security concerns of all parties should be respected. This is the right way to achieve durable security in Europe, he said, blaming the “invisible hand” for the “escalation” of the conflict, which used the Ukraine crisis to “serve a certain geopolitical agenda.”

“China did not create the crisis. It is not a party to the crisis, and does not provide weapons to either side. What has China done to deserve being blamed, or even sanctioned and threatened? This is absolutely unacceptable,” Qin said, adding that Beijing will “always make its own judgment independently based on the merits of the issue.”

The Ukraine crisis has a complicated history and root cause. In essence, he said, it is an eruption of the problems that have built up in Europe's security governance.
The top diplomat considered the Ukraine crisis to be a tragedy that could have been avoided.

“But it has come to where it stands today. There are hard lessons that all parties should truly reflect upon,” he said, adding that "conflict, sanctions, and pressure cannot solve the problem."

On Beijing’s relations with Moscow, Qin said: “With China and Russia working together, the world will have the driving force toward multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations, and global strategic balance and stability will be better ensured.”

The more unstable the world becomes, the more imperative it is for China and Russia to steadily advance their relations, he remarked.

- Warns against ‘mishandling’ Taiwan issue

Calling on Washington to stop containing China by exploiting the Taiwan issue, Qin said the US should “return” to the fundamental of the one-China principle, “honor its political commitment to China, and unequivocally oppose and forestall Taiwan independence.”

“Mishandling of the Taiwan question will shake the very foundation of China-US relations,” he warned.

“The Chinese people have every right to ask: why does the US talk at length about respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine while disrespecting China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Taiwan question?

“Why does the US ask China not to provide weapons to Russia while it keeps selling arms to Taiwan in violation of the August 17 Communique?” Qin questioned.
Questioning Washington's rationale for claiming regional peace and stability, Qin alleged that the US is "covertly formulating a plan for the destruction of Taiwan."

“The Taiwan question is the core of the core interests of China, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-US relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations.

“If the US does not hit the brake but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing, and there will surely be conflict and confrontation,” he warned.

Silencing China against slander and attacks, Qin said it is "just impossible!"

- 'China’s voice not loud enough’

The top diplomat claimed that China's voice around the world is "not loud enough" because Beijing "doesn't have enough microphones."

“China is moving closer to the center of the world stage. We make trending topics and find ourselves in the spotlight more often. But we don’t have enough microphones, and our voice is not loud enough,” he said.

Qin referred to the use of the nomenclature "wolf warrior diplomacy" by the Western media to address Chinese diplomats as a "narrative trap."

"Those who coined the term and set up the trap are either ignorant of China and its diplomacy, or they have a hidden agenda that ignores facts," he said.

He did, however, stress that Chinese diplomats “will take it as our mission to defend China’s core interests.”

“We firmly oppose the Cold War mentality, camp-based confrontation, and acts to contain and hold back other countries’ development. We will resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests,” he said.

In response to a question about the Middle East, Qin stated that China "fully respects" Middle Eastern countries as the "masters of their own affairs."

“We have no intention to fill a so-called ‘vacuum’. And we will not build exclusive circles,” he said, in an apparent reference to the US withdrawal from the region.

“In the Middle East, China will be a facilitator for peace and stability, a cooperative partner for development and prosperity, and an enabler for building strength through unity,” he added.