PRESS RELEASE

---

Hagel Gets an ‘Earful’ in Meetings with Chinese Military

April 8, 2014 (EIRNS)—Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel received some blistering criticism from his Chinese counterparts regarding their concern over the direction of U.S. policy, in particular, with regard to the support exhibited by the U.S. for Japanese rearmament, during a joint press conference with Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan today.

Chang warned the U.S. against any attempt to “contain” China. “With the latest developments in China, it can never be contained," Chang said. The U.S. is "a country of worldwide influence, and the Pacific Ocean is huge enough to hold both China and the U.S. for common development and also huge enough to hold the other Asia-Pacific countries," Chang said. Chang also made it clear that China would not compromise on protecting its territorial sovereignty. "I’d like to reiterate that the territorial sovereignty issue is China’s core interest," Chang said, referring also to its maritime territorial claims. "On this issue, we will make no compromise, no concessions and not even a tiny bit of violation is allowed.... The armed forces are ready to assemble and the first call and are capable of fighting and winning."