Pentagon chief's China 'self-isolation' claims incorrect: Cambodia

SINGAPORE -- US defense secretary's China "self-isolation" claims are incorrect, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh said here Saturday.

Tea Banh made the comments at a meeting with Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission, on the sidelines of the 15th Shangri-La Dialogue.

Tea Banh said many issues were addressed at the ongoing dialogue forum, but he doesn't think what US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's claims about China's military modernization are correct.

At the forum, Carter alleged that China's military modernization could lead to its "self-isolation."

The senior Cambodia official said the best way to solve disputes is through peaceful means, and let related parties achieve mutual understanding via dialogue.

Sun Jianguo, for his part, said China will continue to conduct close communication and frequent high-level contacts with the Cambodian side to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Sun also welcomed the Cambodia's deputy prime minister to visit China's Zhuhai air show to be held later this year.

The US defense secretary had earlier made similar claims about China in a speech delivered at the US Naval Academy. Chinese Foreign Ministry had responded, saying such claims reflected "American-style mentality" and "American-style hegemony."