{"id":245050,"date":"2020-02-15T08:47:49","date_gmt":"2020-02-15T13:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=245050"},"modified":"2020-02-15T08:47:49","modified_gmt":"2020-02-15T13:47:49","slug":"us-defence-chief-slams-china-as-rising-threat-to-world-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2020\/02\/15\/us-defence-chief-slams-china-as-rising-threat-to-world-order\/","title":{"rendered":"US defence chief slams China as rising threat to world order"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mark<\/a>
Esper stressed that the United States does not want conflicts with China, and noted that the U.S. government has provided medical supplies to help China combat a coronavirus outbreak that has infected over 67,000 people. (File Photo<\/a>: @EsperDoD\/Twitter<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MUNICH \u2014 U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper on Saturday cast China as a rising threat to world order \u2014 saying the world’s most populous nation steals Western know-how, intimidates smaller neighbours and seeks an \u201cadvantage by any means and at any cost.\u201d<\/p>\n

A frequent critic of China, Esper used an address to an international security conference in Munich, Germany, to give his most comprehensive condemnation yet of a communist country that he said tops the Pentagon’s list of potential adversaries, followed by Russia, \u201crogue states\u201d like North Korea and Iran, and continuing threats from extremist groups.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party is heading even faster and further in the wrong direction \u2014 more internal repression, more predatory economic practices, more heavy-handedness, and most concerning for me, a more aggressive military posture,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Esper stressed that the United States does not want conflicts with China, and noted that the U.S. government has provided medical supplies to help China combat a coronavirus outbreak that has infected over 67,000 people. Still, he said Beijing has made clear its long-term intentions and said Europe and the rest of the world must \u201cwake up\u201d to the threats that China poses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Communist Party and its associated organs, including the People’s Liberation Army, are increasingly operating in theatres outside its borders, including Europe, and seeking advantage by any means, and at any cost,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we often doubt the transparency and forthrightness of Beijing, when it comes to their security aims, we should take the Chinese government at its word,\u201d he said. \u201cThey have said that by 2035, the PRC intends to complete its military modernization, and, by 2049, it seeks to dominate Asia as the preeminent global military power.\u201d<\/p>\n

With words that echoed the Trump administration’s criticisms of Iran, Esper said China represses its people and threatens its neighbours.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want China to behave like a normal country,\u201d Esper said, adding \u201cand that means the Chinese government needs to change its policies and behaviours.\u201d<\/p>\n

Esper and his immediate predecessor, Jim Mattis, have sought to shift the main focus of U.S. military and security policy toward China and away from small wars against insurgents and extremists. U.S. allies in Europe, while concerned about China’s rise, are more immediately worried about Russia.<\/p>\n

C hinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi later responded, telling the forum that Esper and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo \u201csay the same thing wherever they go about China\u201d and dismissed their remarks as \u201clies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe root cause of all these problems and issues is that the U.S. does not want to see the rapid development and rejuvenation of China, and still less would they want to accept the success of a socialist country,\u201d Wang said through a translator.<\/p>\n

He said China had a \u201cright to develop\u201d and said if Beijing and Washington worked together, it would benefit the whole world.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important task for China and the U.S. is to sit down together to have a serious dialogue and find a way for two major countries with different social systems to live in harmony and interact in peace,\u201d he said. \u201cChina’s ready and we hope the U.S. will work with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

In remarks to the conference earlier Saturday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said China presents challenges as well as opportunities for Western nations. He said Europe and the United States need to work out a united approach to China’s rise.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are opportunities, but also many challenges,\u201d Stoltenberg said, adding that it’s important for Western countries to keep open lines of communication with Beijing.<\/p>\n

Also at the Munich conference, Pompeo refuted assertions that the United States under President Donald Trump was rejecting its traditional international leadership role.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m happy to report that the death of the transatlantic alliance is grossly over-exaggerated,\u201d Pompeo said. \u201cThe West is winning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

David Rising contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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