Diplomat refutes opinions on China's coming war with Asia

BRUSSELS - Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Qu Xing has recently said that there would be no logic to put the core interests and peaceful development against each other, refuting some scholar's opinions on so-called China's coming war with Asia.

Qu made the remarks in a face-to-face debate on Friday at a launch event of the book "China's Coming War with Asia," which was written by a Belgian scholar Jonathan Holslag.

"Since the gist of the book is about whether China's core interests are compatible with its idea of peaceful development, we should first and foremost make clear about what China's core interests are," he said.

He said that China has a clear definition in its "White Paper on China's peaceful development"of its core interests, namely, "state sovereignty, national security, territorial integrity and national reunification, China's political system established by the Constitution and overall social stability, and the basic safeguards for ensuring sustainable economic and social development."

No country in the world would tolerate infringements from foreign countries on their sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, the constitutional system and social stability, he said, arguing that otherwise, no country in the world will be able to achieve peaceful development.

Moreover, Qu also refuted the author's illogical allegation that China's territorial disputes with some neighbors would be the "danger from where war will arise."

"Since Professor Holslag studies diplomatic history of China, he should know that in 1949 when the CPC replaced Kuomintang as the ruling party, China had territorial disputes with all its neighbors on lands. The PRC government has managed to settle disputes peacefully through diplomatic negotiations with 12 neighbors out of 14 in total," he said, adding that "there is no proof in history to say that China is not able to resolve territorial disputes but will have to resort to war."

"No matter from the perspective, either historical facts or from China's position over disputed territory, it will be too arbitrary to argue that China's core interests will inevitably cause conflict with neighboring countries, let alone with Asia," he said.

Qu also added that the situation in Asia is more peaceful and stable than many other regions in the world, and the economic cooperation between China and other Asian countries are more effective.

For paradigm shift and the tragedy of great power politics, Qu said he was more optimistic than Professor Holslag, as people were living in an age featured by globalization and high-technologies, which is entirely different from the age of World War I and World War II.

"The 'new type of great power relationship' which was proposed by President Xi Jinping charts a course where emerging powers and established powers can achieve a win-win scenario through cooperation. Xi Jinping's initiatives are endorsed by US President Barack Obama," he said.

During the debate, Qu considered the "eye-catching" and "sensational" book title was made in order to have a better promotion of his book, even though the title is far from the truth.

"Therefore, out of pure goodwill, I would suggest Professor Holslag put a question mark to the title when his book will be reprinted for a second edition. It will be a more objective and value free attitude which is the most precious quality of a scholar," Qu said.

The book launch drew dozens of scholars and officials from both Chinese and European sides. And the author also briefed on the book content during the event.