Photo: Global Times

The situation of maritime security in the Asia-Pacific is generally stable, adding that the region, free of maritime military conflicts for many years, is a stable part of the global landscape, said Rear Admiral Hu Gangfeng, who leads the delegation from the National Defense University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, when attending and delivering a speech during the third special session at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday afternoon, focusing on cooperative maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Hu said the South China Sea has long been the safest and busiest sea area for global navigation and overflight. On the other hand, maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region is also facing serious challenges, he added. Certain countries wantonly promote the construction of exclusive and confrontational cliques, significantly increase military presence, and frequently violate the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of other countries under the pretext of the so-called freedom of navigation. They also deliberately support the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, seriously undermining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits. Maritime security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific is facing a stark challenge - it must move forward or risk falling behind, said Hu.