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South China Sea
ChinaDiplomacy

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi warns Southeast Asian countries ‘external forces’ are trying to ‘sow discord’ in region

  • Wang blames an unnamed ‘backstage manipulator’ for preventing consensus in the South China Sea, where Beijing’s claims have angered neighbouring countries
  • In speech to Jakarta think tank he also says Asia must avoid repeating the ‘tragedy’ of the war in Ukraine

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A Philippine supply boat, centre, tries to manouvre past Chinese coast guard ships during a decent stand-off in the disputed South China Sea. Photo: AP
Minnie Chan
The “tragedy” of the war in Ukraine must not be repeated in Asia, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday as he warned countries not to allow themselves to become pawns in a great power competition.
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Wang also accused “individual external forces” of “sowing discord” among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to prevent a consensus over the South China Sea, where Beijing’s extensive claims have fuelled tensions with a number of neighbouring countries.

“[We] should disclose the backstage manipulator who aims at serving its own geopolitical needs that has been attempting to stir up troubles undermining the peace in the South China Sea issue for many years,” Wang said in a video address to a conference organised by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia, a Jakarta think tank.

“We should abandon the cold war mentality and oppose zero-sum games, keeping the region away from geopolitical calculations, and not become pawns in the great power competition.”

He also warned: “The Ukraine crisis is a wake-up call to humankind, and such a tragedy must not be repeated in Asia.”

Wang did not name the “external forces” he accused of “manipulating” Asean, but Chinese analysts said his comments could be aimed at the United States or its allies.

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