China boosts military ties to Asean
POST REPORTERS
>> Defence ministers from Asean and China
have vowed to increase military cooperation
and avoid confrontation for the sake
of regional stability.
But after an informal meeting in Beijing yesterday,
the ministers reiterated their concern over the situation in the
South China Sea, Defence Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit said.
Maj Gen Kongcheep said China told the
meeting, attended by Defence Minister
Prawit Wongsuwon, that it wanted Asean
to be a strategic partner with the aim of
boosting trust and maintaining regional
peaceand security.
He said Chinese Defence Minister
Chang Wanquan offered to provide assist
ance to Asean and pledged to solve the
sea dispute using peaceful means. “China
insists it wants to resolve the South China
Sea issue with Asean imder a peaceful solut
ion to reach a win-win result;’ Maj Gen
Kongcheep said.
Four of the 10 Asean members — Brunel,
Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam —
are among the territory claimants in the
South China Sea. The Asean ministers reaff
irmed the bloc’s stance of concern over
the freedom of navigation, stability and
maritime security in the region, he said,
adding the conflicting parties must adhere
to a peaceful solution. “China assured us
that it will be Asean’s good friend and will
not create any tension between us. Invasion
is not an option;’ Maj Gen Kongcheep said.
Gen Prawit told the meeting that Thail
and has a clear stance to promote regional
stability by boosting military ties.