00:00 China's Defence Minister Li Shangfu has warned against playing with fire when it comes to
00:06 Taiwan in a veiled jab at the United States as he addressed a security conference in Russia.
00:12 Speaking at the Moscow Conference on International Security, Li said attempts to use Taiwan to
00:17 contain China would surely end in failure.
00:20 The visit is Li's second to Russia since assuming the role as Defence Chief earlier this year.
00:26 It comes as Beijing has continued to bolster its security ties with Moscow despite its
00:31 unrelenting assault on Ukraine which has triggered a humanitarian disaster with global ramifications.
00:37 Li's comments echoed previous statements by Chinese officials but the location of his
00:41 speech was significant and symbolic given Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
00:46 Li also told attendees that China's military was a firm force in maintaining world peace
00:51 and that Chinese leader Xi Jinping aimed to stabilise global security in a world of chaos.
00:57 Li's comments on Taiwan come on the heels of a backlash from Beijing as Taiwan's Vice
01:02 President William Lai, a frontrunner in the island's upcoming presidential race, makes
01:07 planned stopovers in the United States during travel for an official visit to Paraguay.
01:13 China's ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan and has
01:17 vowed to take control of it by force if necessary.
01:21 It has repeatedly castigated American interactions with the island with which Washington does
01:26 not have official diplomatic ties including for the sale of US arms to Taipei.
01:31 Li, who was sanctioned by the US in 2018 for purchase of Russian weapons, joined the Moscow
01:36 Security Conference as he began a six-day trip to Russia and its close ally Belarus.
01:42 Senior defence officials from more than 20 friendly states including Belarus, Iran and
01:47 Myanmar are also attending the forum.
01:50 No Western countries have been invited to this conference.
01:53 The Chinese Defence Chief also held bilateral meetings with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan,
01:58 Vietnam and other countries' defence departments and military leaders on the sidelines of this
02:03 conference.
02:10 [MUSIC PLAYING]
