China opposes moves to disrupt regional stability, ministry says

China is pleased to see countries outside the Asia-Pacific, including the United States, play a constructive role in regional peace and development, but does not accept any behavior that undermines China's legitimate interests and disrupts regional peace and cooperation, a high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said.

Wu Jianghao, assistant foreign minister, made the remark during a recent interview with China Media Group, according to a statement the ministry issued on Saturday.

The US is attracting attention from all parties lately by making frequent moves in the region that create tensions and instigate confrontation, Wu said. "These moves' main objective is to damage regional stability and maintain the US' monopolar hegemony," he said.

US President Joe Biden is in Asia for a five-day visit to the Republic of Korea and Japan that lasts until Tuesday, during which he will attend a Quad group leaders' meeting in Tokyo.

Tokyo will also see the launch on Monday of Biden's Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, Reuters reported.

The trip came about a week after the conclusion of a special summit between the US and the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations in Washington.

"We see that at the summit, ASEAN member states made a joint call for peace and cooperation, instead of side-taking, separation and confrontation," Wu said.

"This shows that ASEAN is a mature regional organization that tells clearly right from wrong, sticks to what is right and doesn't get bamboozled easily," Wu also said.

Even some people in the US admit that initiatives aiming at rivalry won't work in Asia, Wu said, adding that "those who persist in playing geopolitical games in the region and leading it purposely into chaos will lose support and end up in failure".

Speaking of China's relations with ASEAN, Wu said both sides are stepping up formulating an action plan for their comprehensive strategic partnership, and that he expects they will come to a consensus as soon as possible.

The core of the consensus will include championing the spirit of good-neighborliness and mutual respect to object Cold War mentality, working together to address risks and challenges, keeping up the quality construction of the Belt and Road and promoting the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, according to Wu.

China and ASEAN formed a comprehensive strategic partnership in November 2021, when they celebrated the 30th anniversary of bilateral dialogue relations.

China has been the largest trade partner for ASEAN for 13 consecutive years, while ASEAN became China's largest trade partner for the first time in 2020.

China-ASEAN ties have kept enhancing over the past three decades, said Wei Ling, professor with the School of International Relations of the University of International Business and Economics.

The relations are "extremely important to regional peace, stability and development", considering the volume of their economies and population, according to Wei.

Both sides give priority to their need to develop, and the interests of development are the most important common grounds for bilateral cooperation, Wei said, adding that such cooperation won't be disrupted by investment or moves of other parties.

"Southeast Asian countries welcome investment from all parties, but have expressed that they won't take sides and that they object a 'new Cold War' in the region," Wei said. "They also disapprove of forming political alliances."