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Singapore: China’s Defence Minister has warned foreign naval vessels and warplanes to stay out of the Taiwan Strait, intensifying Beijing’s military posture a day after a Chinese warship nearly collided with an American destroyer in the contested waters.

In a strident speech that escalated China’s threats towards the democratic island of Taiwan, Li Shangfu told other countries to “mind their own business”.

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu salutes before delivering his speech in Singapore.Credit: AP

“As the lyrics of a well-known Chinese song go when friends visit us, we welcome them with fine wine when jackals or wolves come we will face them with shotguns,” he said.

On Saturday, a Chinese warship came within 140 metres of hitting the American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon in the Taiwan Strait. Canadian reporters travelling aboard the trailing HMCS Montreal witnessed the Chinese navy ship pick up considerable speed and cut in front of the bow of the Chung-Hoon.

The near miss followed another incident between the world’s two largest militaries on May 26 when a Chinese fighter jet swerved in front of a US reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea.

“They’re not here for innocent passage,” said Li. “They’re here for provocation.”

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, international ships and planes are allowed to pass through the Taiwan Strait if they are outside a 24-nautical mile zone from any coastline.

“Why did all those incidents happen in areas near China not in areas near other countries?” Li asked in response to questions at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

“I think that is because China’s naval vessels or Chinese fighter jets do not do those navigation actions in areas near other countries.

But other areas do not face weekly military threats from Beijing. On Sunday morning alone, 15 People’s Liberation Army aircraft and seven naval vessels were detected around Taiwan by its Ministry of National Defence.

China claims neighbouring Taiwan as a province of the mainland despite the Chinese Communist Party never having ruled the democratic island of 24 million people. President Xi Jinping has set a target of unifying with Taiwan by the centenary of the People’s Republic in 2049, but some military leaders fear that could come much earlier as China rapidly builds up its military capability.

Chinese Defense Minister General Li Shangfu at the Shangri-La on Sunday. Credit: AP

“We will strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with our most sincerity and greatest efforts,” said Li. “But we make no promise to renounce the use of force if anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China.”

Less than 8 per cent of the Taiwanese population wants to see unification with the mainland, according to a regular poll by Taipei’s National Chengchi University. But Li accused, without evidence, Taiwan’s ruling Democratic People’s Party of “manipulating and hijacking public opinion”.

“They have tried hard to erase the Chinese identity of Taiwan,” he said. “Meanwhile, some big power has repeatedly sold arms to Taiwan, providing military training assistance to it and upgraded official exchanges with Taiwan.”

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen speaks with military personnel in September 2021.Credit: AP

Li accused the United States of attempting to contain China by supporting Taiwan. The Chinese general has refused to meet with his counterpart Lloyd Austin at the Shangri-La in Singapore, historically one of only two bilaterals between the two military leaders each year. Li was sanctioned by the US in 2018 over the purchase of Russian fighter jets.

In his keynote speech at the Shangri-La Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had urged the two superpowers to re-open dialogue after a communication breakdown following the shooting down of a Chinese-made balloon over the US in February.

Austin on Saturday said he was deeply concerned that China has been unwilling to engage more seriously on better mechanisms for crisis management between the two militaries.

“For responsible defence leaders, the right time to talk is any time. The right time to talk is every time and the right time to talk is now,” said Austin.

Li said it was undeniable that a severe confrontation between China and the US will “be an unbearable disaster for the world”.

“China seeks to develop a new type of major country relationship with the United States,” he said.

“As for the US side, it needs to act with sincerity, match its words with deeds and take concrete actions together with China to stabilise the relations and prevent further deterioration.”

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