US trying to ‘hijack’ support of Asia-Pacific nations, claims China

China’s Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe(Danial Hakim/AP)

China’s defence minister has accused the United States of trying to “hijack” the support of countries in the Asia-Pacific region to turn them against Beijing, saying Washington is seeking to advance its own interests “under the guise of multilateralism”.

General Wei Fenghe lashed out at US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, rejecting his “smearing accusation” that China is causing instability with its claim to the self-governing island of Taiwan and its increased military activity in the area.