US, China trade jibes as military tensions worsen

Beijing says 'certain US politicians' damaging military ties in run-up to November election for their own selfish gain

The United States and China traded jibes as military tensions grow between the world’s two largest economies, with the US defence chief vowing not to “cede an inch” in the Pacific and China saying Washington was risking soldiers’ lives.

Both are at loggerheads over issues from technology and human rights to Chinese military activities in the disputed South China Sea, with each accusing the other of deliberately provocative behaviour.

In the latest US move against China ahead of November’s presidential election, Washington on Wednesday blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted individuals over construction and military actions in the busy South China Sea waterway.

In Hawaii, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said Beijing is using an aggressive military modernisation programme in a bid to project power globally.

“To advance the CCP’s agenda, the People’s Liberation Army continues to pursue an aggressive modernisation plan to achieve a world class military by the middle of the century,” Esper said, referring to the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

“This will undoubtedly involve the PLA’s provocative behaviour in the South and East China Seas, and anywhere else the Chinese government has deemed critical to its interests.”

However, the United States also wants to “hopefully continue to work with the People’s Republic of China to get them back on a trajectory that is more aligned with the international rules based order,” Esper added.

Speaking before a regional tour, Esper described the Indo-Pacific as the epicentre of a “great power competition with China”.

He added, “We’re not going to cede this region, an inch of ground if you will, to another country, any other country that thinks their form of government, their views on human rights, their views on sovereignty, their views on freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, all those things, that somehow that’s better than what many of us share.”

In Beijing, China’s Defence Ministry shot back at “certain US politicians” it said were damaging Sino-US military ties in the run-up to the November election for their own selfish gain, even seeking to create military clashes.

“This kind of behaviour puts the lives of frontline officers and soldiers on both sides at risk,” spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters at a monthly briefing on Thursday.

China is not scared of “provocation and pressure” from the United States, and will resolutely defend itself and not allow the United States to cause trouble, he added.

“We hope the US side will truly adopt a strategic vision, view China’s development with an open and rational attitude, and leave behind the quagmire of anxiety and entanglement.”

The tension, including China’s drills this week along its coast, have sparked fears of accidental conflict, against which Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen warned on Thursday.