China says its defense development no threat to anyone

NEW DELHI - Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said on Tuesday that China’s defense development is not aimed at challenging or threatening anyone, and added that non-traditional security issues pose grave challenges to regional security.

Speaking at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defecse Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADAMM-Plus), Liang said China’s defense development aims to ensure its own security and promote international and regional peace and stability.

“China pursues a defense policy that is defensive in nature,” Xinhua quoted him, as saying in the Vietnamese capital.

Liang said the security situation in the Asia-Pacific remains generally stable, but the region is still confronted with many traditional and non-traditional security challenges, like tsunamis, earthquakes, typhoons and floods.

Non-traditional security issues pose grave challenges to regional security, economic growth and people’s livelihood, he said, adding that non-traditional security threats are usually transnational and unpredictable, and require a joint response.

Liang said China supports the ADMM-Plus in focusing on non-traditional security cooperation and giving priority to tackling non-traditional security challenges, which directly threaten the lives and well being of the people in the Asia-Pacific.

The first ADMM-Plus drew officials from 10 ASEAN members-Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam-and their eight dialogue partners-Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. (ANI)