U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter talks during the 2016 Shangri-La Dialogue. (Photo : Reuters)
Last week’s Shangri-La summit became a tag team diplomacy wrestling match between defense ministers from China and the United States who were both backed by their own allies.
According to Reuters, the annual Shangri-La Dialogue became a venue for one of the most diplomatic wrestling matches in history as U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and counterparts from Japan, France, India and Vietnam joined forces to criticize China.
In response, China's defense representative, together with ally nations, bit back by declaring the nullity of blame assigned to the Asian giant, who claims to be a victim of the South China Sea disputes.
First Round
An Economic Times report features Carter's speech, which brought the U.S.'s pressure on China another step higher by warning the Asian country of consequences for its actions.
Citing the grapple on the Scarborough Shoal, which is also being claimed by the Philippines, Carter indirectly warned China of isolation if its makes any action to reclaim the islands.
"I hope that this development doesn't occur, because it will result in actions being taken by the both United States and . . . by others in the region, which would have the effect of not only increasing tensions but isolating China," Carter said during the dialogue.
He also mentioned his nation's power when it comes to military force.
"The United States will remain the most powerful military and main underwriter of security in the region for decades to come--and there should be no doubt about that," he was quoted as saying.
He also emphasized that China is still welcome to join a "principled security network" in the continent.
Likewise, Japan's defense minister Gen Nakatani declared the Japanese's participation in annual naval exercises with the U.S. and India to help keep the peace in the region.
"It is very meaningful from the standpoint of securing safety in the wide area of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, for Japan, the United States and India to cooperate on security and defense areas and to conduct training," Nakatani stated.
Retaliation
In response, China's Admiral Sun Jianguo, the deputy chief of the joint staff department of the Central Military Commission, declared that no one should blame his country for what is happening.
"No one has the right to point their fingers at China. Belligerence does not make peace," Reuters quoted him as saying.
According to the outlet, the Chinese admiral was allowed more time to rebut the accusations thrown to China by his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Chi Vinh, who cut his responses short to allow Sun more time to defend his country from criticisms thrown by the other side.
