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US-led Quad a ‘huge security risk’ to Asia, Chinese foreign minister tells Asean
- Strategic bloc set to become an ‘Indo-Pacific Nato’, Wang Yi says on regional charm offensive
- Quad’s aim is to ‘stir up confrontation among different groups … to maintain the dominance and hegemonic system of the US’, he says
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China has upped the ante in its fight with the United States in Southeast Asia, playing up concerns among regional neighbours about a new Indo-Pacific security grouping led by Washington, while promising to strengthen trade links and anti-pandemic cooperation.
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During a charm offensive to five Southeast Asian countries this week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pushed for post-coronavirus economic cooperation, pledged to provide Covid-19 vaccines to Malaysia and Laos, and signed a free-trade agreement with Cambodia, one of China’s closest allies. In Bangkok, he offered support to the embattled Thai government, which has come under attack recently from student-led protests.
During his visits Yi repeatedly portrayed Washington and its Indo-Pacific strategy as “a huge security risk” to Asia. During a stop in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, he slammed the so-called Quad – the US-led strategic bloc with Japan, India and Australia – as an “Indo-Pacific Nato”.
In an interview with Xinhua on Friday, Wang again sought to play on fears among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations that the body’s pivotal role in regional affairs might be challenged by the US-led security initiative targeting Beijing.
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“[The aim of the Quad] is to trumpet the old-fashioned Cold War mentality to stir up confrontation among different groups and blocs and to stoke geopolitical competition, in a bid to maintain the dominance and hegemonic system of the US,” he was quoted as saying.
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