FM harshly criticizes 'Indo-Pacific strategy'

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday criticized the United States' "Indo-Pacific strategy", saying Washington aims to use the strategy to establish an Indo-Pacific version of NATO.

Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress, Wang said the US Indo-Pacific strategy is becoming a byword for "bloc politics'".

"The US professes a desire to advance regional cooperation, but in reality it is stoking geopolitical rivalry. It talks a lot about returning to multilateralism, but in reality it is forming exclusive clubs. It claims to uphold international rules, but in reality it is setting and imposing rules that suit itself and its acolytes," he said.

Wang listed a series of moves the US has adopted in the Asia-Pacific region — strengthening the Five Eyes intelligence network, peddling the "Quad" security dialogue, piecing together AUKUS and tightening bilateral military alliances. "This is by no means some kind of blessing for the region, but a sinister move to disrupt regional peace and stability," he said.

Wang said the US purposes are to maintain the US-led system of hegemony, undermine the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture and compromise the overall and long-term interests of countries in the region.

"The perverse actions run counter to the common aspiration of the region for peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcomes. They are doomed to fail," he added.