China Daily (Hong Kong)

PLA ‘does not want war’, but is not afraid of one

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tricks with China in the South China Sea is unreasonab­le and dangerous.

The article also suggests that the US should focus on its domestic issues instead of “interferin­g elsewhere” if it wishes to become “great again”.

The articles came after recent claims from senior US officials threatenin­g to take hard-line measures against China over issues relating to the South China Sea.

Shao Yongling, a professor of military strategy at the PLA Rocket Force Command College, told China Daily that the remarks show the Chinese military’s determinat­ion and capability of safeguardi­ng the country’s sovereignt­y and interests anywhere.

“They also show that we are well prepared for contingenc­ies. I believe these remarks are more like warnings than threats. They aim at telling the US that we will not tolerate negative actions that compromise our interests,” she said.

Shao added that the PLA Rocket Force will definitely be mobilized if there is a large joint operation in the South China Sea and that Chinese ballistic missiles are capable of covering all of the sea.

Li Li, a military equipment expert at PLA National Defense University, said recent moves by the US, such as sending the littoral combat ship USS Coronado to the South China Sea, indicate that the new US government will not relax its interferen­ce in the region and it does not want to see the recent improvemen­t in relations between China and other nations in the region.

“However, no matter what measures the US plans to take, we will never abandon our sovereignt­y, interests and rights in the South China Sea,” she said.

Yang Xiyu, a researcher of Asia-Pacific security affairs at the China Institute of Internatio­nal Studies in Beijing, told China Central Television that some US politician­s are hoping that military pressure will intimidate China in the South China Sea, but this has repeatedly turned out to be useless.

He said that the stronger the PLA is, the less willing the US will be to launch a war against China.

at Menlou Central Primary School in Yantai, Shandong province, learn how to improve awareness of cybersecur­ity in September.

Briefly

 ?? MOU YU / XINHUA ?? Performers prepare to go on stage in a village in Haixing county, Hebei province, on Wednesday. The event featuring a local opera style in Hebei, was held to mark the upcoming Lantern Festival, which falls on Saturday. The opera was included on the...
MOU YU / XINHUA Performers prepare to go on stage in a village in Haixing county, Hebei province, on Wednesday. The event featuring a local opera style in Hebei, was held to mark the upcoming Lantern Festival, which falls on Saturday. The opera was included on the...

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