Asia-Pacific opposes military alliances

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday that most countries in the Asia-Pacific have made it clear the region opposes various kinds of military blocs, does not welcome the extension of NATO to Asia and rejects the resurgence of any kind of war.

Speaking at a regular news briefing in Beijing, Wang echoed the concerns over a new kind of Cold War as recently expressed by senior officials from countries, including Indonesia and Singapore, saying their remarks fully demonstrated regional countries' vigilance and opposition to certain countries' attempt to start a "Cold War" in Asia and force countries to take sides.

"Some countries have boasted that they advocate freedom and openness, and claimed that they maintain regional peace and prosperity," Wang said. "But in fact, they have been piecing together military blocs of various kinds and attempted to push NATO eastward into the Asia-Pacific region."

Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, in a speech at the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, on Saturday said that every war, both hot and cold, is always close to the threat of disaster to the whole world.

Wang said it is the shared aspiration of regional countries to adhere to strategic autonomy and to maintain regional stability and development.

"All Asian countries welcome efforts to achieve accomplishments together and do not welcome any attempt to make trouble," he said, adding that China is willing to work with regional partners to oppose words and deeds that will incite bloc confrontation in Asia and to make Asia a region of peace, development and cooperation.

Wang also confirmed the current visit to China of US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Sarah Beran, the senior national security official for the Chinese mainland and Taiwan island affairs.

"Yang Tao, director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, have held a meeting with them. And Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu is scheduled to meet with them this afternoon," Wang said.

The US Department of State announced Kritenbrink's weeklong visit starting Sunday that will see him visit China and New Zealand, without specifying his duration of stay in China.