China warns ‘NATO-like’ alliances could lead to conflict in Asia-Pacific


Source: news.com.au news.com.au

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China's defence minister warned Sunday against establishing NATO-like military alliances in the Asia-Pacific, saying they would plunge the region into a "whirlpool" of conflict. Li Shangfu's comments came a day after US and Chinese military vessels sailed close to each other in the flashpoint Taiwan Strait, an incident that provoked anger from both sides. "Attempts to push for NATO-like (alliances) in the Asia-Pacific is a way of kidnapping regional countries and exaggerating conflicts and confrontations," Li told a security conference in Singapore also attended by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. Li said these alliances would "plunge the Asia-Pacific into a...