(VOVworld) – China’s actions are not professional and its statements were not respected at the Shangri-La dialogue.

US security expert Ely Ratner (Photo: VOV)

Dr. Ely Ratner, Deputy Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, having returned from the Shangri-La dialogue, was responding to a statement from the deputy chief of staff of the Chinese Army, Lieutenant General Wang Guanzhong, that China had not provoked the tensions and his harsh reaction to statements by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel. Dr. Ratner: "Very few people outside China agreed with that statement. I found that China’s participation at Shangri-La dialogue was very unprofessional and not productive to overall conversation. I was surprised by things that Chinese General Wang said that China has never taken any first step to cause trouble in the South China Sea. It is simply China’s way of propaganda. I don’t think that anyone outside China would believe that. And I took it as Wang was speaking to Chinese audience and he was trying to be tough in front of his colleagues and his government. Whether effective Wang hopes from the audience, the speech showed negative reflections upon China". 

Mr. Ely Ratner said the chairman of the Shangri-La dialogues had tried many times to prevent the discourteous and hostile questions raised by Chinese members to the speakers. Ely Ratner added that China’s behavior at Shangri-La showed a lack of confidence from a powerful country.