South China Morning Post

Wang Yi warns of ‘bloc confrontat­ion’ in the Indo-Pacific

Top envoy also calls for ceasefire in Gaza as he takes veiled swipes at US during Indonesia visit

- Kawala Xie kawala.xie@scmp.com

Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned of the dangers of “bloc confrontat­ion” in the Indo-Pacific and urged the United States to support a full ceasefire in Gaza during a visit to Indonesia yesterday.

Wang made several references to the US at the start of a six-day tour that also includes Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.

In a joint press briefing with his Indonesian counterpar­t Retno Marsudi, Wang slammed trade protection­ism and the formation of “blocs” that risk underminin­g regional security.

“We advocate inclusive economic globalisat­ion, oppose unilateral­ism and protection­ism, oppose ‘decoupling and breaking chains’ and ‘small yards and high fences’, and [want to] jointly maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains,” he said.

“We must be highly vigilant about the make-up of various ‘small circles’ in the region, oppose any attempt to create bloc confrontat­ion, and cherish and maintain the hard-won peace and stability in the region.”

The US has stepped up trade and tech curbs against China, including a new Section 301 tariff investigat­ion targeting Chinese steel and other metal products.

It has also strengthen­ed ties with its Indo-Pacific allies through different security alliances to counter what they call China’s growing “assertiven­ess” in the region. Wang and Retno called for peace and stability in the region, which Retno said could only be achieved if “all parties respect internatio­nal law”.

Wang said China was willing to work with the Associatio­n of Southeast Asian Nations on agreeing to a code of conduct to manage confrontat­ions in the South China Sea and turning the waters into “a sea of peace and cooperatio­n”.

The pair also jointly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and full United Nations membership for a Palestinia­n state.

Wang also criticised the US for repeatedly vetoing UN resolution­s on a ceasefire in Gaza and abstaining in the first resolution passed since the start of the conflict.

The comments came ahead of another vote at the UN Security Council on granting Palestine full membership, which the US is likely to veto.

Wang urged the US to obey the UN Charter and internatio­nal law, saying: “The United States has always claimed to abide by the ‘rules-based internatio­nal order’, and the biggest rule is … the United Nations Charter.”

He also warned “the Security Council cannot become a tool for individual countries to play geopolitic­s, let alone a stage for powerful hegemony to flourish”.

Wang pledged to expand the role of the Belt and Road Initiative, and synchronis­e China’s developmen­t with Indonesia’s Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, its plan to make the country a leading economy by 2045.

 ?? Photo: AFP ?? Wang Yi and Retno Marsudi shake hands as they wrap up their joint press conference after bilateral talks in Jakarta yesterday.
Photo: AFP Wang Yi and Retno Marsudi shake hands as they wrap up their joint press conference after bilateral talks in Jakarta yesterday.

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