China will oppose 'wanton expansion of military alliances', warns Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned on Tuesday that Beijing will reject the “wanton expansion of military alliances,” the latest in a series of cautions as rival Washington strengthens security connections in the Asia-Pacific.

China has long warned that any attempt to form a military alliance similar to NATO in the Asia-Pacific region would only lead to bloodshed.

It has also stated that the EU’s fast growth in Eastern Europe is to blame for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which it has refused to condemn.

Wang stated at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday that China will “oppose the wanton expansion of military alliances and the squeezing of other countries’ security space.”

He said Beijing would seek to “resolve differences and disputes among countries through dialogue and consultation”, without specifying the nations in question in either case.

Wang also declined to confirm whether President Xi Jinping would travel to the United States for a meeting with US counterpart Joe Biden.

The two leaders are expected to meet at an APEC summit in San Francisco on November 14-16.

“Regarding your question about the arrangements for attending APEC, we are in communication with all parties and will make an official announcement in due course,” Wang said.

Wang’s remarks came as he unveiled a broad programme laying out Beijing’s foreign policy goals for the coming years.

“Building a global community of shared future is the way forward for all the world’s peoples,” the policy paper, released by Chinese news agency Xinhua, reads.

“However, it is not a goal to be accomplished overnight, and there will be no plain sailing,” it continues.

“We need to make unremitting efforts and forge ahead with perseverance.”

The document also touches on Russia’s war in Ukraine, reiterating a multi-point position paper released by China earlier this year that was widely seen as conciliatory towards Moscow.

Western countries have warned China’s proposals could enable Russia to hold much of the territory it has seized in Ukraine.

“Conflicts and wars produce no winner,” the new paper reads while adding that “there is no simple solution to a complex issue”.

The paper — which runs to over 14,000 words — “draws a new blueprint for a better world”, it says.

It contains a number of broad proposals for dealing with a litany of global challenges, including climate change, poverty and security.