China will ‘crush’ foreign encroachment in South China Sea: military official

[Pelican Press 0]

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China will ‘crush’ foreign encroachment in South China Sea: military official

China will “crush” any foreign incursion into its sovereign territory including in the South China Sea, a senior Beijing military official said Thursday on the sidelines of a defence forum.

“We hope that the South China Sea will remain a sea of peace,” ******** army Lieutenant General He Lei told a small group of journalists including AFP at the Xiangshan forum.

But, he said, “if the ******* States moves its pawns behind the scenes, if it pushes countries to the front line, or if the ******* States itself ends up on the front line, then we in the ******** People’s Liberation Army… will never have any patience”.

“We in the ******** People’s Liberation Army will resolutely crush any foreign hostile encroachment on China’s territorial, sovereign and maritime rights and interests with firm determination, staunch will, strong capability and effective means,” He said.

Washington and Beijing have verbally sparred over China’s increasingly assertive approach in disputed maritime regions, including the South China Sea.

In recent months, ******** vessels have engaged in a series of high-profile confrontations with Philippine ships in the waters, which Beijing claims almost in their entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

On Thursday, Lieutenant General He said a resolution to those tensions “depends on the ******* States”.

He also confirmed that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Chase would attend this week’s Xiangshan forum in Beijing.

“I hope that during his visit, during his meetings here, Michael Chase will listen more to the voices of China and the ******** military,” he said.

“The message we are sending to the ******* States is that we want the two countries and armies to be partners, to be friends, we want to pursue China-US relations featuring win-win cooperation,” he said.

“We want the ******* States to make more contributions to regional and world peace, security and stability,” he added.

Scores of delegates were in the ******** capital Thursday for the Xiangshan forum, dubbed China’s answer to Singapore’s annual “Shangri-La” meeting.

It is set to host more than 500 representatives from over 90 countries and international organisations, organisers have said.

Official speeches are expected on Friday, when the forum’s opening ceremony will take place and top military representatives from Russia, Pakistan, Singapore, Iran, Germany and others will participate in roundtable discussion.

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