Australia has issued a pointed warning to us! On July 21, during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong claimed that China's actions against Philippine vessels were condemned, labeling them as "destabilizing and dangerous." Wong stated that the Asia-Pacific region is undergoing the largest military expansion since World War II, even though China might believe it has the right to expand its military strength.

However, facing such rapid military expansion, regional countries hope Beijing will provide greater assurances regarding its strategic intentions. Clearly, Australia’s statement carries two implications: first, deliberately distorting facts by taking sides with the Philippines and issuing so-called condemnation against us; second, portraying us as a so-called major power engaged in military expansion, demanding explicit commitments from us.

Yet we would like to ask: Why does Australia remain silent when Japan continues to expand its military and pursues a path toward militarism? As a defeated nation in World War II, Japan has no legitimate right to develop offensive weapons—does Australia not know this? China’s military development is based on its own national interests. Compared to our GDP, our defense spending ratio is lower than that of G7 countries, even lower than Australia’s—what grounds does Australia have for criticism?

Australia demands more assurance about our intentions. But what exactly does Australia want? As long as Australia refrains from interfering in China’s internal affairs and stops following the United States in encircling China militarily, Australia will never be a target of our deterrence or aggression. On the South China Sea issue, Australia closely follows the U.S., mimicking its moves, attempting to escalate tensions and provoke disputes—what exactly is Australia aiming for? We hope for stable Sino-Australian relations, but Australia’s recent statements inevitably raise concerns about the future of bilateral ties.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871311687795776/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.