Defence officials to discuss better military cooperation in Asia at the Xiangsan Forum

Record ID: 84420

  • Title: Defence officials to discuss better military cooperation in Asia at the Xiangsan Forum
  • Date: 11th October 2016
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (OCTOBER 11, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MEETING IN PROGRESS CHINESE DEFENCE MINISTER CHANG WANQUAN WALKING TO PODIUM AND PUTTING ON HIS GLASSES CAMERAMEN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE DEFENCE MINISTER, CHANG WANQUAN, SAYING: "Global strategic stability is threatened, individual countries are looking for absolute advantages in military field, and constantly strengthen military alliances at the cost of other countries' security to seek their own absolute security." ATTENDEES SEATED FORMER AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER, BOB HAWKE, SPEAKING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER, BOB HAWKE, SAYING: "What better way to show, how a new strategic and political law on Asia could and should work, and how China could and should exercise a greater leadership role then to step forward on this key issue. If that can happen, there is a real chance that the South China Sea dispute to become a steppingstone to new stable regional order in Asia, and not a path right to escalating rivalry and conflict." OFFICIALS SEATED ATTENDEES CLAPPING
  • Embargoed: 26th October 2016 05:23
  • Keywords: China defence forum Bob Hawk Chang Wanquan
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00153K84ED
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Defence officials held discussions on better military cooperation in Asia at the seventh Xiangsan Forum in Beijing on Tuesday (October 11).
    The Xiangsan Forum which covers military and defence issues in the Asia Pacific is seen at Beijing's answer to the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.
    In his opening remarks Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan said that all countries should work together for regional security rather than only focus on their own.
    "Global strategic stability is threatened, individual countries are looking for absolute advantages in military field, and constantly strengthen military alliance in the cost of other countries' security to seek for their own absolute security," he said.
    Former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke invited to speak at the forum mentioned the South China Sea issue.
    "What better way to show, how a new strategic and political law on Asia could and should work, and how China could and should exercise a greater leadership role then to step forward on this clear issue. If that can happen, there is a real chance that the South China Sea dispute to become a steppingstone to new stable regional order in Asia, and not a path right to escalating riot and conflict," he said.
    China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion worth of trade passes each year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the sea.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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