Russia says US, NATO undermining security in Asia-Pacific

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - By creating new military alliances in the Asia-Pacific, the US and NATO are undermining the security architecture in the region, Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov said on Saturday.

"One of them (of military blocs) has already been created -- the military and technological bloc AUKUS, which includes the US, Great Britain and Australia," Morgulov said in an interview to China's state-run CGTN television network.

"Formally, all this is furnished with the pretext of creating an Australian nuclear submarine fleet. But it is clear that behind these steps are far-reaching plans to bring NATO's military-technological potential to the region," Morgulov said.

The ambassador stressed the new alliance will bring problems, undermining the region's security and stability to justify its presence in the region.

"Therefore, I do not see any positive aspects from the fact that NATO may appear in the Asia-Pacific region," Morgulov stressed.

In the face of such challenges, Russia and China have to make efforts to preserve the existing security structure by explaining to regional players challenges and threats arising from NATO's presense in Asia-Pacific, Morgulov noted.

"For those who do not understand, we will respond by increasing military and military-technical cooperation with the like-minded in the region, including China," he said, adding that Russia and China regularly hold joint military drills.

"We will continue to increase our defense capabilities to respond promptly to the threats that NATO may create in this region of the world," Morgulov said.

- China's peace initiative for Russia-Ukraine war

Morgulov called "balanced" Beijing's position on the Russia-Ukraine war and welcomed "willingness of Chinese friends" to contribute to the peace settlement.

He said Moscow is considering the 12-point peace initiative presented by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, adding that many of the ideas voiced in the document are in line with Russia's stance.

In the document dubbed China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, Beijing urged for ceasing hostilities, resuming peace talks, and ending Western sanctions on Moscow.

"In particular, we fully share the principles outlined in the document of adherence to the UN Charter and international law.

"We agree with the thesis of the indivisibility of security, which means that the security of some states cannot be ensured at the expense of the security of others.

"We support China's position on the illegitimacy of unilateral sanctions applied bypassing the UN Security Council," Morgulov said.

However, all peace initiatives break at Ukraine's unwillingness to hold talks, Morgulov regretted.

"Russia is open to achieving the goals of its 'special military operation' by political and diplomatic methods. But we see that the necessary conditions for peace talks have not yet developed, because the Western masters of the Kyiv regime simply do not allow it to enter into the negotiation process with us," Morgulov said.

- Russian-Chinese bilateral cooperation

Morgulov said the Russian-Chinese trade turnover could exceed $200 billion "with a large margin" in 2023.

Russia and China have been successfully working on coupling integration projects of Belt and Road and the Eurasian Economic Union, the envoy said, adding: "We have taken another step forward by proposing the idea of creating a Greater Eurasian Partnership based on similar processes."

Morgulov said he also expects Beijing to lift restrictions for Russian tourists. "Normal air service has been resumed between Russia and China. Aeroflot operates three flights a week to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Chinese airlines have also resumed flights between the two countries.

"The railway connection has not opened yet. We hope that this will happen in the near future," he said.