Beijing “Seeks to Reshape” Asia Pacific Security Order

The Straits Times

12 January 2017

China has put out a White Paper on its policy on security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific for the first time, in what is seen as a reflection of its growing interest in reshaping the regional security order.

At a press conference yesterday, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Liu Zhenmin made it clear that the document was about security cooperation and not security issues.

But he also said: “The current security structure in the region is not satisfactory, which has led to mistrust among the nations.”

The release of the White Paper came as China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed into the Taiwan Strait yesterday for the first time.

… Associate Professor Li Mingjiang, an expert on Asia-Pacific security, said the White Paper showed that China has become “more serious about reforming and transforming the regional security architecture”. This is as the current one, which China did not play a major role in creating, has elements not to its liking. Among these are the United States-centred security alliances and partnerships such as those between the US and Japan, South Korea, the Philippines or Thailand.

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Last updated on 12/01/2017