‘Cold War Mentality Resurgent’: Chinese Defense Minister Warns of East Asia Military Buildup

The newly-appointed Chinese Defense Minister, Li Shangfu, has warned that the growing military buildup in East Asia by “some countries” is leading to the return of “Cold War mentalities.”

“A cold war mentality is now resurgent, greatly increasing security risks,” Li, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) general sanctioned by the United States, told the Shangri-La Dialogue, a security conference held in Singapore. “Mutual respect should prevail over bullying and hegemony.”

The comments come just one day after the U.S. Navy accused a Chinese destroyer of sailing “in an unsafe manner” following a joint military exercise with Canada through the Taiwan Strait.

Li insisted that China has no problems with “innocent passage,” but that such s0-called “freedom of navigation” missions — an exercise to reinforce the principle of safe and unharried sailing on the high seas — are more troublesome.

“[W]e must prevent attempts that try to use those freedom of navigation (patrols), that innocent passage, to exercise hegemony of navigation,” the senior-ranking official told the forum.

The previous day, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin addressed the same body, underscoring that the United States would not “flinch in the face of bullying or coercion.”

During his speech, Austin glancingly referenced his brief interaction and handshake with Li during Friday’s opening ceremony.

“The more that we talk, the more that we can avoid the misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict,” the Defense Secretary said. “A cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantive engagement.”

In late May, the Defense Department confirmed that a Chinese fighter jet engaged in an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” alongside an American plane.

According to the Pentagon, the aircraft was “conducting safe and routine operations . . . in international airspace, in accordance with international law.”

However, the “Chinese pilot took dangerous action in approaching the plane very, very closely,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said following the incident. “There have been a series of these actions directed not just at us, but in other countries in recent months.”

Bilateral tensions have escalated in recent weeks as both parties have remained at loggerheads. This Monday, the Pentagon confirmed that the Chinese had rejected an American request for Austin to have an official meeting with Li.

“The most dangerous thing is not to communicate and as a result, to have a misunderstanding and miscommunication. And as we’ve said repeatedly while we have a real competition with China, we also make sure that doesn’t veer into conflict and the most important starting point for that are regular lines of communication,” Secretary Blinken added.

According to AFP, a French news outlet, China has insisted that the Li first be removed from America’s sanction list before direct talks commence.