Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe attends the IISS Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, June 2, 2019. REUTERS/Feline Lim
June 2, 2019
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe criticized the United States on Sunday for its support of an independent Taiwan and for naval operations in the disputed South China Sea, but said conflict or war between the two countries would be a disaster.
In a speech at an Asian defense summit in Singapore, Wei said China would “fight to the end” anyone who tried to split China from Taiwan, which Beijing considers a sacred territory to be reclaimed by force if necessary.
(Reporting by Lee Chyen Yee; writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
