China warnt vor einem „neuen Kalten Krieg“, während sich die Großmächte in Südostasien treffen

China’s premier, Li Qiang, called for major powers to oppose a new Cold War during talks in Indonesia. This statement was seen as a reference to the United States, as Beijing has expressed concerns about US-backed blocs forming in its vicinity. Li emphasized the importance of avoiding picking sides, bloc confrontation, and a new Cold War in order to maintain control over differences and disputes between countries. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is currently holding separate summits with China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Canada, providing a platform for these big powers to engage with the bloc and address their rivalries.

The meetings in Indonesia precede the East Asia Summit, where broader geopolitical issues are expected to be discussed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is set to attend the summit, and the Russian embassy in Indonesia has already posted an image of his arrival. US Vice President Kamala Harris is attending the ASEAN meetings in place of President Joe Biden, while Li is representing President Xi Jinping. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are also participating in both days of meetings.

During the ASEAN meetings, Yoon reportedly urged leaders to refrain from cooperating with North Korea, which the United States claims is engaging in arms talks with Russia. Yoon emphasized that any attempts to forge military cooperation with North Korea, which undermines peace in the international community, should be immediately halted. The release of treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant is expected to be a prominent issue between China and Japan during the meetings.

Host Indonesia assured ASEAN leaders that the bloc would not become a proxy for big power competition, particularly amid ongoing tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The meetings are expected to conclude with joint statements on closer diplomatic, economic, and food security collaboration between the powers and ASEAN. ASEAN leaders will also hold summits with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The situation in Myanmar will also be a major topic of discussion, as China is a key ally of the junta in Myanmar. Southeast Asian leaders strongly condemned the violence and attacks on civilians in Myanmar, directly blaming the junta. China’s release of a new official map claiming sovereignty over the majority of the South China Sea has also caused tensions with several ASEAN members. Japan has lodged a strong protest against China over the map and called for its retraction. Joint statements from the meetings are expected to address the South China Sea and Myanmar, expressing concern about land reclamations, activities, and serious incidents in the disputed region. However, experts believe that ASEAN leaders are unlikely to confront China directly in order to avoid damaging their relationships with major powers

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China warns against ‘new Cold War’ as big powers meet in SE Asia

China’s premier said on Wednesday major powers must oppose a new Cold War, a thinly veiled reference to Washington as top Asian and US officials gathered for talks in Indonesia. Beijing has expressed concern about US-backed blocs forming on its doorstep, while facing disputes with other powers in the region over the South China Sea and other issues. “Disagreements and disputes may arise between countries due to misperceptions, diverging interests or external interferences,” Li Qiang said at the start of an ASEAN-plus-three meeting with Japan and South Korea in Jakarta. “To keep differences under control, what is essential now is to oppose picking sides, to oppose bloc confrontation and to oppose a new Cold War.” The 10-member Association of Southeast

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