China to ‘crush’ foreign encroachment in South China Sea: military official

China vows to crush foreign incursions in South China Sea, tensions with US persist, Xiangshan Forum addresses regional security.

China will “crush” any foreign incursion into its sovereign territory including in the South China Sea, a senior Beijing military official said Thursday (September 12, 2024) on the sidelines of a defence forum.

Washington and Beijing have verbally sparred over China’s increasingly assertive approach in disputed maritime regions, including the South China Sea.

In recent months, Chinese vessels have engaged in a series of high-profile confrontations with Philippine ships in the waters, which Beijing claims almost in their entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

Speaking to a small group of journalists including AFP at the Xiangshan Forum, Chinese Army Csaid: “We hope that the South China Sea will remain a sea of peace.”

But, he said, “if the United States moves its pawns behind the scenes, if it pushes countries to the front line, or if the United States itself ends up on the front line, then we in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army... will never have any patience”.

“We in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will resolutely crush any foreign hostile encroachment on China’s territorial, sovereign and maritime rights and interests with firm determination, staunch will, strong capability and effective means,” Mr He said.

On Wednesday (September 11, 2024), China and the Philippines held what they called “candid” talks on South China Sea issues, in particular over a disputed reef that has become a hotspot for recent bilateral clashes.