Chinese Colonel Confronts U.S. Defense Secretary About Whether Washington Plans to Build a “NATO-like Alliance” in Asia

People's Liberation Army Colonel Cao Yanzhong asked U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore about the prospect of NATO expansion in Asia. Images via IISS.

Chinese concerns about the U.S.’ vast alliance network in the Asia-Pacific region were on full display at this weekend’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Chinese military officers at the event appeared convinced that the United States plans to establish a “NATO-like alliance system” in the region and implied that to do so could trigger a conflict comparable to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. 

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by Eric Olander

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