Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu said on June 4 that Beijing seeks dialogue rather than confrontation with the United States, warning that any conflict between the two countries would bring “unbearable disaster.”

Speaking at Asia's premier security summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, which is taking place in Singapore, Mr. Lee pointed out that the relationship between the two superpowers affects global strategic stability and the world is large enough for China and the United States to develop together.

“China and the United States have different systems and are different in many ways,” he said in his first major international speech since being appointed China’s defense minister in March.

“However, this should not prevent the two sides from seeking common ground and common interests to develop bilateral relations and deepen cooperation,” he said.

“It is undeniable that a conflict or a fierce confrontation between China and the United States would be an unbearable disaster for the world,” the minister said.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at an all-time low over a range of issues, including espionage allegations, trade tensions, restrictions on semiconductor exports and the ongoing war in Ukraine. But the most contentious and sensitive topics remain Taiwan (China) and the South China Sea.

“China is committed to the path of peaceful development, but we will never hesitate to defend our legitimate rights and interests, let alone sacrifice our core national interests,” Li said at the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue.

China's defense minister also took a veiled swipe at Washington, saying that “certain countries” were intensifying the arms race and interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

“A Cold War mentality is now on the rise, significantly increasing security risks,” he said. “Mutual respect should prevail over bullying and hegemony.

“In essence, efforts to promote a NATO-like (alliance) in the Asia-Pacific are a way to kidnap countries in the region and exaggerate conflicts and confrontations, which will only push the Asia-Pacific into a spiral of disputes and conflicts,” China's top security official said.

In a speech earlier on June 3 at Asia's top security forum organized by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin rebuked China for refusing to hold military talks, leaving the two superpowers deadlocked over differences.

Li, who has been on the US sanctions list since 2018 over arms deals with Russia, shook hands with Austin over dinner on June 2 but the two top security officials from China and the US have not had any in-depth discussions, despite Washington’s repeated requests for more military exchanges.

“I am deeply concerned that China is not willing to engage more seriously in better mechanisms for managing crises between our militaries,” Austin said at the event in Singapore. “The more we communicate, the more we can avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict . ”

Minh Duc (According to Al Jazeera, DW)