Leave Asia to Asians, Says China

Asia News Network

22 May 2014

Seeking to allay fears of China’s growing assertiveness, President Xi Jinping has made clear his country’s commitment to work for peaceful development and to usher in a “new phase” in Asia’s security landscape.

Speaking to a gathering of leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai at a security forum here yesterday, Xi outlined a new “Asian security concept” on how Asian states can play a bigger role to maintain regional peace.

In a nutshell, he said one country’s security should not come at the expense of another’s, and sustainable security has to be driven by holistic cooperation and joint development among Asian states.

… Singapore-based international relations analyst Li Mingjiang said China’s increased security interest is motivated by a growing desire to play a more active role in international affairs and to reshape the security structure and norms in the Asia-Pacific region.

“This is clearly a response to US efforts to consolidate its alliances and security partnerships in the region and growing security concerns in some regional countries towards China,” Professor Li told The Straits Times.

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