China will ‘crush’ foreign encroachment on South China Sea: Military official

China will ‘crush’ foreign encroachment on South China Sea: Military official

BEIJING: China will “crush” any foreign incursion into its sovereign territory including in the South China Sea, a senior Beijing military official said on Thursday (Sep 12) on the sidelines of a defence forum.

“We hope that the South China Sea will remain a sea of peace,” Chinese army Lieutenant-General He Lei told a small group of journalists including AFP at the Xiangshan forum.

But, he added, “if the United States moves its pawns behind the scenes, if it pushes countries to the front line, or if the US itself ends up on the front line, then we in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army … will never have any patience”.

“We in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will resolutely crush any foreign hostile encroachment on China’s territorial, sovereign and maritime rights and interests with firm determination, staunch will, strong capability and effective means,” He said.