Chinese Defense Minister General Wei Fengyi accused the United States of trying to “capture the support of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region in order to turn them against Beijing,” and explained that “Washington seeks to advance its interests under the guise of multilateralism.”

In press statements, the minister criticized his American counterpart Lloyd Austin, dismissing his accusation that “Beijing has caused instability by claiming the autonomous island of Taiwan and increasing its military activities in the region”, noting that “the purpose of the accusation is to slander and tarnish China’s reputation.”

In his speech at the Shangri-La Security Dialogue Summit in Singapore, Austin stressed “the need for a multilateral partnership with the countries of the Indo-Pacific.”

And the Chinese defense minister felt that “this is an attempt to corner China” and felt that “no country should impose its will on others or intimidate others under the guise of pluralism.” He continued: “This strategy is an attempt to create a small private group called Indo-Pacific Free and Open to take over countries in our region and target a specific country – it is a strategy to create conflict and confrontation to contain and encircle others. .”

China is rapidly modernizing its military and seeking to expand its influence and ambitions in the region as it recently signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands that many fear could lead to a Chinese naval base in the Pacific. foothold in the Gulf of Thailand.