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WORLD NEWS Monday 17 February 2020

U.S. defense chief slams China as rising threat to world order

By ROBERT BURNS and MAT- "The most important task for approach to China's rise.
THEW LEE China and the U.S. is to sit "There are opportunities,
Associated Press down together to have a but also many challenges,"
MUNICH (AP) — U.S. De- serious dialogue and find Stoltenberg said, adding
fense Secretary Mark Esper a way for two major coun- that it's important for West-
on Saturday cast China as tries with different social ern countries to keep open
a rising threat to world or- systems to live in harmony lines of communication
der — saying the world's and interact in peace," he with Beijing. Also at the Mu-
most populous nation steals said. "China's ready and nich conference, Pompeo
Western know-how, intimi- we hope the U.S. will work refuted assertions that the
dates smaller neighbors with us." United States under Presi-
and seeks an "advantage In remarks to the confer- dent Donald Trump was
by any means and at any ence earlier Saturday, rejecting its traditional in-
cost." NATO Secretary-General ternational leadership role.
A frequent critic of China, Jens Stoltenberg said China "I'm happy to report that
Esper used an address U.S. Secretary for Defense Mark Esper speaks on the second presents challenges as well the death of the transat-
to an international secu- day of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, as opportunities for West- lantic alliance is grossly
rity conference in Munich, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020. ern nations. He said Eu- over-exaggerated," Pom-
Germany, to give his most Associated Press rope and the United States peo said. "The West is
comprehensive condem- need to work out a united winning."q
nation yet of a communist its associated organs, in- have sought to shift the
country that he said tops cluding the People's Lib- and security policy toward Denmark arrests 27
main focus of U.S. military
the Pentagon's list of poten- eration Army, are increas-
insurgents people on suspected
tial adversaries, followed ingly operating in theaters China and away from small
by Russia, "rogue states" like outside its borders, includ- wars against
North Korea and Iran, and ing Europe, and seeking and extremists. U.S. allies in
advantage by any means, Europe, while concerned cocaine smuggling
continuing threats from ex-
tremist groups. and at any cost," he said. about China's rise, are
"The Chinese Communist "While we often doubt the more immediately worried Associated Press ian and Filipino nationals
Party is heading even fast- transparency and forth- about Russia. HELSINKI, Finland (AP) — among others and remain
er and further in the wrong rightness of Beijing, when C hinese Foreign Minister Danish police say they in custody pending further
direction – more internal it comes to their security Wang Yi later responded, have arrested 27 people investigation.
repression, more predatory aims, we should take the telling the forum that Es- for suspected drug smug- "We're naturally very
economic practices, more Chinese government at its per and U.S. Secretary of gling after finding some 100 pleased that many kilos of
heavy-handedness, and word," he said. "They have State Mike Pompeo "say kilograms of cocaine on a cocaine have not hit the
most concerning for me, said that by 2035, the PRC the same thing wherever Bahamas-registered cargo street. Now we are inves-
a more aggressive military intends to complete its mili- they go about China" and vessel plying Danish waters. tigating further to find out
posture," he said. tary modernization, and, dismissed their remarks as Copenhagen police said who is waiting in vain for
Esper stressed that the Unit- by 2049, it seeks to domi- "lies." Sunday in a statement that the deliveries," said Inspec-
ed States does not want nate Asia as the preemi- "The root cause of all these the cocaine was seized tor Dannie Rise, the head
conflicts with China, and nent global military power." problems and issues is that during an internationally of the special Investigation
noted that the U.S. govern- With words that echoed the U.S. does not want to coordinated bust on Satur- unit at the Copenhagen
ment has provided medi- the Trump administration's see the rapid development day on the container ship police.
cal supplies to help China criticisms of Iran, Esper said and rejuvenation of China, Duncan Island while it was According to Danish
combat a coronavirus out- China represses its people and still less would they sailing south of the town broadcaster TV2, the ves-
break that has infected and threatens its neighbors. want to accept the suc- of Gedser. The suspects, sel was en route from Hel-
over 67,000 people. Still, he "We want China to behave cess of a socialist country," all foreigners, are charged singborg, Sweden to St.
said Beijing has made clear like a normal country," Es- Wang said through a trans- with serious drug crimes un- Petersburg, Russia when
its long-term intentions and per said, adding "and that lator. der Danish law and may it was seized by authori-
said Europe and the rest of means the Chinese gov- He said China had a "right face a sentence of up to ties. It said the cocaine is
the world must "wake up" ernment needs to change to develop" and said if 16 years in prison. believed to have a street
to the threats that China its policies and behaviors." Beijing and Washington They include the vessel's value of approximately 350
poses. Esper and his immediate worked together, it would international crew with million Danish kroner ($50
"The Communist Party and predecessor, Jim Mattis, benefit the whole world. Russian, Latvian, Ecuador- million).q