Regular Press Conference of the Ministry of National Defense on May 29

By Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, Deputy Director General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND

Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers reporters' questions at a regular press conference on May 29, 2023.(Photo/mod.gov.cn)

(The following English text of the press conference is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

I have two pieces of news to announce at the top.

First, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Li Shangfu will attend the 20th Shangri-La Dialogueupon invitation and pay an official visit to Singapore from May 31 to June 4. General Li will deliver a speech on “China's New Security Initiative” at the Shangri-La Dialogue and meet with heads of delegationsof relevant countries. During his visit, General Li will also hold meetings and talks with leaders of the government and Ministry of Defense of Singapore.

Second, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense hosted the 16th Seminar for Senior Military Officers from Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries from May 23 to June 7. Onthe theme of Friendly Cooperation for a Shared Future, this year's seminar is attended by 54 senior military and police officers from 25 countries. It aims to deepen mutual understanding and trust between the Chinese military and the militaries of LAC countries, promote new development of China-LAC defense and security cooperation, and play a positive role in building the China-LAC community with a shared future.

Question: China's State Councilor and Defense Minister General Li Shangfu had a telephone conversation with the Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada on May 16. Could you please brief us more on the telephone conversation and China-Japan defense cooperation?

Answer: China's State Councilor and Defense Minister General Li Shangfu used the direct telephone link under the maritime and air liaison mechanism between the Chinese and Japanese defense authorities for the first time on the afternoon of May 16 in Beijing to have a telephone conversation with his Japanese counterpart. The two defense chiefs exchanged views on bilateral and defense relations.

Defense relations make an important part of the China-Japan relationship. We hope the Japanese side will work with China in the same direction, implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and continue to expand the scope of the maritime and air liaison mechanism, so as to contribute to the development of bilateral relationsand regional peace and stability.

Question: It is reported that the Chinese and Lao militaries recently held the Friendship Shield-2023 joint exercise in Laos. Please tell us more about the exercise and its highlights.

Answer: From May 9 to 28, the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) jointly organized the Friendship Shield-2023 exercise at the training ground of Kommadam Academy of the LPAF. This is the first exercise focusingon real combat subjects held by the two militaries, which is of great significance to consolidating the traditional bilateral friendship, strengthening interoperability and safeguarding regional security and stability.

There are three points to highlight about this joint exercise. First, real combat standard. Participating troops from both sides were organized into mixed teams according to real combat requirements, and the subjects were set in line with the real combat standards of the two militaries, in a bid to test and improve the real combat capabilities of both sides.

Second, precise and efficient command. The two sides set up a joint directing panel anda joint command post, with a command team and four operational command and control centers. The two sidesdecided the principles of operational command through consultation, and explored and improved joint command mechanisms.

Third, closely-coordinated actions. The two sides conducted comprehensive exercise in the four stages of fire assault, assault penetration, joint occupation of strong holds, and division and encirclement. The joint operations were under precise control and tactics such as force distribution and concentration, forced insertion and quick striking, and encirclement and annihilation were tested.

Connected by same mountains and rivers, China and Laos have always helped and supported each other. The Chinese military stands ready to work with the Lao military to earnestly implement the important consensuses reached by the leaders of the two parties and two countries, and step up practical cooperation in defense and security, and make new and greater contributions to regional peace and stability.

Opening ceremony of the China-Laos Friendship Shield-2023 joint exercise. (Photo by Yang Jicheng)

Participating troops from both sides conduct tactical training during the joint exercise. (Photo by Yang Jicheng)

Participating troops exchange experience during the joint exercise. (Photo by Yang Jicheng)

Question: It is reported thata video conference of the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Meeting-Plus Working Group (ADSOM-Plus WG) was held recently. Could you please provide us with more information about this?

Answer: Chinese defense officials participated in the recent virtual meeting of the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Meeting-Plus Working Group (ADSOM-Plus WG). During the event, participants focused on the work associated with this year's ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), reviewed and summarized the work of the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Groups (EWGs) in the previous cycle, and engaged in consultations on the EWGs co-chairmanship arrangements for the upcoming cycle.

In recent years, China and ASEAN countries have continuously deepened defense and security cooperation through regional dialogue and cooperation mechanisms. From 2021 to 2023, China and Cambodia co-chaired the EWG on Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA). The Chinese military is ready to actively participate in ASEAN-led practical cooperation in various fields, further deepen strategic mutual trust with the militaries of ASEAN countries, and improve exchange and cooperation mechanisms, so as to promote sustained and solid progress in China-ASEAN defense cooperation and work together to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Question: The Fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was recently held in The Hague, Netherlands. The US announced that it remained on target tocomplete the destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile by this autumn. What's your comment on that?

Answer:The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is an important pillar of global security governance. The destruction of chemical weapons is both the core objective of the Convention and the foremost obligation of the States Parties. As stipulated in the Convention, the destruction of stockpiled chemical weapons shall finish not later than 10 years after entry into force of this Convention in 1997. The repeated delays in the destruction process have severely impeded the achievement of the lofty goal of "a world free of chemical weapons" envisioned in the Convention.

In the 26 years since the Convention came into effect, over 99% of global chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed, with seven out of eight possessor states have completed their declared stockpile destruction. The US is currently the only country that still has remaining stockpiles of chemical weapons. China hopes that the US will fulfill its commitments and demonstrate its sincerity of implementing the Convention through concreteactions.

Meanwhile, in stark contrast to the near-complete destruction of global stockpiles of chemical weapons, the destruction process of Japan's abandoned chemical weapons (ACWs) in China seriously lags behind, and misses the deadlines for the destruction many times. China urges the Japanese side to act with a stronger sense of urgency and increase input to completely and thoroughly eliminate the harm of ACWs as early as possible. China hopes that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the international community will intensify supervision and verification on the issue of Japan's ACWs in China, in a bid to accelerate the destruction process and remove obstacles to achieving "a world free of chemical weapons".