South China Sea: US alliances mar peace and stability, Beijing’s envoy tells Asean

China’s top envoy to Southeast Asia took a veiled swipe at US-led alliances in the Asia-Pacific, calling them ideology-based undermining of “peace and stability” in the South China Sea and East Asia regions.

Hou Yanqi, China’s ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, referred to “Cold War mentality and geopolitical confrontation between major powers” on Thursday during a speech at the Asean-China Forum in Hong Kong.

“Certain countries [started] the implementation of [the] so-called Indo-Pacific strategy … This should threaten regional peace and stability,” Hou said.

“Some countries also formed exclusive, small circles, like Quad and Aukus, based on ideology,” she said, adding that these alliances had intensified regional confrontation and rivalries.

She said these unnamed countries had tried to introduce the narrative of “Ukraine today, East Asia tomorrow” and create “an Asia-Pacific version of Nato” which, along with other Western strategies, were increasing the risk of regional conflict.