China tells South Asian neighbours not to worry about its rise in Asia

Saturday, 7 September 2013 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Despite the fears of a certain ‘China Threat’ theory appearing in international politics due to the country’s rise in Asia and its increasing international influence, China has not invaded any neighbouring country yet, a senior Chinese military official said on Thursday.

Addressing the Sri Lankan Army-organised ‘Defence Seminar - 2013 in Colombo, Senior Colonel Xu Hui, Director of the Teaching and Research Department at the College of Defence Studies at the National Defence University (NDU) in Beijing said China has seen the historical rise of Asia in the past three decades and the region is still far from destabilised by an ‘aggressive’ China as imagined by some people. Speaking under the theme ‘A stable Sri Lanka and China’s rise in Asia; Regional Security Concerns,’ Senior Colonel Xu said a certain ‘China Threat’ theory appeared in international politics still continues to go on enabling birth of many predictions about China. “So far none of them has ever materialised and China’s political system still works, its economy is still growing and no neighbouring country has been invaded by China,” he said. Recognising that the growth of China’s economy and its military strength have become a source of concern for some scholars, statesmen and media, the Chinese military official said China’s gradual move towards great power status and its increasing international influence have caused anxiety in some countries to the extent that ‘How to deal with a rising China’ has become the puzzle of the 21st century. However, contrary to these expectations, China has always contributed to the regional development, stability and peace through its policies for a friendly, secure, and co-prosperous neighbourhood, Senior Colonel Xu noted. While maintaining stability within China, it has followed the five principles of peaceful co-existence and respect ‘Asian Way’ through which economic cooperation with all countries is prioritised while contributing to regional peace, the Chinese military official assured. “With our active defence policy, the Chinese way of deterrence is applied, that is ‘We are not going to attack unless we are attacked; we are certainly to counter-attack if we were attacked as Chairman Mao once said,” Senior Colonel Xu Hui said. Speaking of historical relations with Sri Lanka, the Chinese official said the two countries have so many things in common – values of peaceful coexistence, opposing colonialism, hegemonies, foreign interference, and terrorism, etc. He said the two countries can learn from each other as Sri Lanka keeps the momentum of comprehensive approach of reconciliation, reconstruction and rebuilding. China is a steadfast supporter of Sri Lanka, always providing political as well as financial support and the ties between the two nations continue to grow stronger. The three-day seminar ended today and 112 defence representatives from about 46 countries participated in the event.