China will not allow any country or force to create war or chaos in the Asia-Pacific, its defence minister said on Sunday, warning that there were \u201climits\u201d to Beijing\u2019s restraint on the South China Sea and over the deployment of ballistic missiles in the region. In a keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, AFP quoted Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun as saying: \u201cChina has maintained sufficient restraint in the face of rights infringements and provocation, but there are limits to this\u201d. The Philippines and the United States are longstanding treaty allies, and Manila is a key focus of Washington\u2019s efforts to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region, which has enraged Beijing. Given its position in the South China Sea and proximity to Taiwan, which China claims as its own, Philippine support would be crucial for the US in the event of any conflict. The deployment of \u201cmedium-range ballistic missiles\u201d was \u201cseverely damaging regional security and stability\u201d, Dong said. \u201cActing in this way will ultimately burn oneself.\u201d Dong also warned of \u201climits\u201d to Beijing\u2019s restraint on the South China Sea, following a series of confrontations bet\u00adween Chinese and Philippine vessels near disputed reefs. China Coast Guard vessels have used water cannon against Philippine boats multiple times in the contested waters. There have also been collisions that injured several Filipino troops. No place for \u2018small yard with high fences\u2019 According to China Daily, the defence chief said that in the face of common security challenges, no country can remain unaffected, and there is no such thing as absolute security or exclusive security, noting that there is a long-standing tradition of \u201chelping neighbours in need\u201d. \u201cWe do not allow hegemon-ism and power politics to harm the Asia-Pacific region, we do not allow geopolitical conflicts or cold and hot wars in the region, and we do not allow any country or force to create war and chaos here,\u201d he said. He said that building \u201ca small yard with high fences\u201d has no place in the Asia-Pacific region. \u201cPeople yearn for unity, cooperation and a peaceful life, and the military forces of various countries need to protect this aspiration,\u201d Dong added. Committed to Taiwan reunification Talking about Taiwan, Dong said Taiwan was the \u201ccore of core issues\u201d for China, but Taiwan\u2019s ruling Demo\u00adcratic Progressive Party is incrementally pursuing separatism and bent on erasing Chinese identity. \u201cThose separatists recently made fanatical statements that show their betrayal of the Chinese nation and their ancestors. They will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history,\u201d Reuters quoted him as saying. He accused foreign powers of interfering in \u201cdomestic issues\u201d, and \u201cemboldening Taiwan separatists\u201d. Dong added that while China was committed to peaceful reunification with Taiwan, the People\u2019s Liberation Army \u201cwill remain a strong force for upholding national reunification\u201d. \u201cWe will take resolute actions to curb Taiwan independence and make sure such a plot never succeeds,\u201d he said. This year\u2019s Shangri-La Dialogue comes a week after China held military drills around self-ruled Taiwan and warned of war over the US-backed island following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing has described as a \u201cdangerous separatist\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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