Senior Chinese diplomat expresses concern over world's security situation

ROME, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- International cooperation in world security is lacking partly due to the structural obstacles, Chinese congresswoman and senior diplomat Fu Ying said at the Third Mediterranean Dialogue forum being held in Rome from Thursday to Saturday.

Fu Ying, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (China's top legislature), said the U.S., the strongest military power in the world, has failed to build an all-inclusive security framework after the Cold War.

"It prefers to take its military alignment as the pillar of the world security," said Fu, China's former deputy minister of foreign affairs.

"However, as we all know, the alignment is based on an exclusive security approach, and sometimes even leads to the insecurity of non-allies," said Fu, a key speaker at the forum mainly on international cooperation and world security.

"For example, the U.S. has prioritized the interests of its allies in the territorial disputes in the East and South China Sea, while not willing to recognize the interests of China, which is not an ally (of the U.S.)," she said.

The Korean Peninsula is an even more unfortunate example, according to Fu.

"After the Korean War, the U.S. has maintained its military presence and the Peninsula have been trapped in confrontation for over half a century. Due to the deep mistrust between the U.S. and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), no peace agreement, be it bilateral or multilateral, could be fully implemented," she said.

"The U.S., emphasizing the security of its own and its allies, has exerted mounting military pressure and called for continued sanctions. While the DPRK, hoping to achieve ultimate security and in disregard of regional security, has speeded up nuclear and missile tests, resulting in a vicious circle of action and reaction," Fu pointed out.

The world is now witnessing a growingly dangerous situation, Fu warned. "So, the world can be safe only when all countries are free from threat and feel safe," the former Chinese ambassador to Britain said.

At the forum, Fu raised 4-point suggestion as China's thinking on a community of security.

The first is common security, meaning to respect and ensure the security of each and every country, rather than some countries being safer than others, Fu said.

According to Fu, the second point is comprehensive security, meaning tackling both traditional and nontraditional security threats. The third one is cooperative security, meaning promoting common security through communication and cooperation.

The fourth, she said, is sustainable security, meaning also paying attention to development which, for many developing countries, is the vital path to stability and security.

"For China, it's important to strengthen its defense forces to protect the country and the people, and handle security challenges that confront China," Fu emphasized.

For international security, Fu said, China mainly plays a role within the UN framework. "For example, China is the biggest contributor to peacekeeping among the 5 permanent members of the Security Council. The Chinese navy has actively participated in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden."

The Chinese veteran diplomat also said that it would be hard to form synergy in countering rising new challenges if countries maintain a closed bloc or an exclusive approach to security or stick to geopolitical competition. Enditem