China says its military poses no threat to peace in Asia

Jun 5, 2011, 5:23 GMT

Singapore - China's defence minister said Sunday that its military ambitions posed no threat to peace in Asia, and he called for equality and respect in international relations.

'China is committed to regional peace and stability through security cooperation,' Liang Guanglie told an Asian security summit in Singapore.

The military is attaining new capabilities, but it would never change its 'rationality of self-restraint, defensive nature of its defence policy and its unfading commitment to peaceful development,' Liang said through an interpreter.

'Only by advocating democracy in international relations and respecting each other's core interests and major concerns' could the region find lasting peace and stability, he said.

The defence chief vowed that China would never seek hegemony or military expansion. He also warned that countries 'should not engage in any alliance targeting a third party,' but did not elaborate.

Liang said he had a good meeting with his US counterpart Robert Gates on the sidelines of the summit Friday, noting that relations between the two powers were 'developing very well.'

He said China was pushing for an early resumption of stalled six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament that involve the two Koreas, Japan, China, Russia and the US.

Liang was the first Chinese defence minister to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, now in its 10th year.

The annual forum, organized by the London-based Institute for Strategic Studies, brings together defence chiefs and security policymakers from 27 nations. The summit was set to end Sunday.