CMC vice-chairman criticizes bloc politics and unilateralism

The world is shadowed by war and humanitarian disasters created by countries which have promoted bloc politics and unilateralism, a senior Chinese military official warned on Monday in an elite security forum held in Beijing.

General Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that people with conscience worldwide are hoping for peaceful development and win-win cooperation, while certain countries always adhere to the zero-sum mentality and the law of the jungle where the weak are prey to the strong.

He criticized those countries for promoting bloc politics and unilateralism, which have brought "war clouds and humanitarian disasters" to the world.

"If one's heart is filled with hostility, competition will be everywhere. If one only considers it own national interests, everyone will be seen as opponents," he said, urging all countries to be highly vigilant against the resurgence of Cold War mentality and jointly resist the wrong practices that tear apart the world.

Zhang also criticized certain countries for deliberately causing turmoil, interfering in regional affairs, meddling in other countries' internal affairs, and instigating color revolutions.

"We must be highly vigilant against artificially intensifying conflicts, fueling confrontations and avoiding strategic misjudgments," said the senior official.

In addition, he emphasized that in the face of global challenges, no one can be immune. Zhang called on countries to jointly respond to multiple crises, including energy and food crisis, and instability in the global industrial chain, which have been intensified by wars and conflicts.

"We have always believed that regardless of a country's size, strength, or wealth, it is an equal member on the same boat," Zhang said. "Only by respecting each other can we traverse the turbulent waves and sail towards a bright future."

He outlined several key aspects that need to be mutually respected: sovereignty and territorial integrity, core interests and major concerns, development paths and social systems chosen by the people of each country, and reasonable security concerns of each country.

"We should not impose our own will on others, prioritize our own interests above others, build our own security upon the insecurity of others, or intentionally provoke others on sensitive issues," he said.

He also reiterated the position of the Chinese military towards the Taiwan question, which is at the center of China's core interests.

"China will absolutely not allow and will not be soft if anyone attempts to separate Taiwan from China by any means," he said.

The senior military official emphasized that China has always been a cornerstone for maintaining world peace and an important driving force for stable economic growth, by citing data that China has military exchanges with over 150 countries, and is an important trading partner with more than 140 countries and regions.

China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, actively engage in security governance efforts, including peacekeeping, arms control, counter-terrorism, climate change, strengthening communication on security issues in emerging fields, actively participate in the formulation of global security rules, and playing a constructive role in maintaining world peace.