New Delhi: Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie said on Tuesday that his country’s defence development is not aimed at challenging or threatening anyone, and added that non-traditional security issues pose grave challenges to regional security.
Speaking at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADAMM-Plus), Liang said China’s defence development aims to ensure its own security and promote international and regional peace and stability.
“China pursues a defence policy that is defensive in nature,” Xinhua quoted him, as saying in the Vietnamese capital.
Liang said the security situation in the Asia-Pacific remains generally stable, but the region is still confronted with many traditional and non-traditional security challenges, like tsunamis, earthquakes, typhoons and floods.
Non-traditional security issues pose grave challenges to regional security, economic growth and people’s livelihood, he said, adding that non-traditional security threats are usually transnational and unpredictable, and require a joint response.
Liang said China supports the ADMM-Plus in focusing on non-traditional security cooperation and giving priority to tackling non-traditional security challenges, which directly threaten the lives and well being of the people in the Asia-Pacific.
The first ADMM-Plus drew officials from 10 ASEAN members -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- and their eight dialogue partners -- Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.
ANI
