China wants stability and good ties with Southeast Asia, says defence minister
Informal summit comes amid mainland’s strained relations with some Association of South East Asian Nations neighbours over Beijing’s territorial claims in disputed South China Sea
China’s defence minister struck a conciliatory tone with Southeast Asia defence chiefs on Friday, saying that all needed to work hard to maintain peace and stability against threats, including instigation by foreign forces using social media.
The mainland’s relations with several Southeast Asian countries, especially the Philippines and Vietnam, have been strained over Beijing’s increasingly assertive tone in pushing territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.
Read more: Beijing's South China Sea island building has polarised Asean nations
China has overlapping claims with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei in the South China Sea, through which US$5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.
Forces from outside the region are using the internet, social media and other means to carry out incitements against countries in this region, threatening social stability
China’s Defence Minister Chang Wanquan told his counterparts from all 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) at the start of an informal summit in Beijing that all needed to push for the “correct” development of ties.
Chang said the biggest common need was to maintain stability.