People's Liberation Army vows to step up engagement with jittery Asian neighbours

BEIJING: Refuting American and Japanese allegations of destabilising the region, China has showcased its new initiatives like the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) for Asian security and offered to step up dialogue with neighbouring countries to defuse tensions. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is ready to work with other militaries to contribute further to regional and global peace and development, senior PLA official Wang Guanzhong said today.

"We will continue to work with regional countries to carry out in-depth bilateral and multilateral security dialogues and exchanges," Wang, Deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA, said at the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

His comments came in the backdrop of sharp attacks by US Defence Secretary, Chuck Hegel accusing China of destabilising the region apparently referring to its deployment of oil rig in the contested waters of the South China Sea.

In the violence that ensued in Vietnam, four Chinese were killed and over 100 others injured in anti-China riots. Beijing had to evacuate over 7000 Chinese workers following the riots. Wang said, China will continue to boost dialogue, communication and coordination with the countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the defense and security areas and will support the development of ASEAN Community.

Vietnam along with the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei which have maritime disputes with China in the South China Sea are members of ASEAN. Wang said that China has proposed to work with regional countries to build a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR).

The two major cooperation initiatives offer new opportunities for China and adjacent countries to achieve common development, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. China has also invited India to join the MSR for which Beijing has already allocated USD one billion for implementing it.