China admiral touts cooperation while warning on sea spats

(June 5): Chinese Admiral Sun Jianguo used a speech to global defense chiefs to tout his military’s cooperation in the western Pacific, while taking aim at the US for sailing ships near reefs China claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Sun’s address struck a more conciliatory tone at the Shangri-La security dialogue in Singapore than last year, even as China beefs up its military presence in contested areas. He stressed the People’s Liberation Army’s interactions with the militaries of Southeast Asia and countries like India and Japan.

"The Asia-Pacific countries have constituted a community of shared destiny, interdependent and inseparable," Sun said on Sunday. "The bright future for the Asia-Pacific region has to be facilitated by common development and common security of all regional countries."

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