WASHINGTON – Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan has warned the Philippines and Japan not to test China’s resolve to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, saying the Chinese military can be assembled quickly to fight and win any battle.
The Chinese official raised the warning in a joint press conference in Beijing with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
Chang said territorial sovereignty was a core Chinese interest on which “we will make no compromise, no concession, no trading.”
“Not even a tiny bit of violation is allowed,” he said.
A transcript of the Tuesday conference was released by the Pentagon in Washington.
For his part, Hagel, who is on a three-day visit to China, said the Philippines and Japan were long-time allies of the United States.