China Beats The War Drums At Shangri-La Dialogue

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an international defence and security conference held in Singapore from May 31 to June 2, Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun declared, "We will not allow hegemonism and power politics to undermine the interests of Asia-Pacific countries. We will not allow anyone to bring geopolitical conflicts or any war, whether hot or cold, to our region. We will not allow any country or any force to create conflict and chaos in our region."

"We will take resolute actions to curb Taiwan's independence and make sure such a plot never succeeds. Anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China will only end up in self-destruction," Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun said.

This was fighting talk from China, which has already created immense security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region. Indeed, these words formed a sharp juxtaposition as China Coast Guard personnel, just days earlier, fired water cannons, harassed a medical evacuation and stole and destroyed supplies airdropped to Philippine troops aboard a beached ship guarding Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

However, the greatest threat from bellicose China was reserved for democratic Taiwan. "We will take resolute actions to curb Taiwan's independence and make sure such a plot never succeeds. Anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China will only end up in self-destruction."

Worryingly, Beijing's rhetoric at this annual Singapore conference that attracts defence ministers from all over the world reached a new level of intimidation.