China's defence minister has said war with the US would be an "unbearable disaster" for the world in his first major speech since taking on the role. At a security summit, General Li Shangfu said "some countries" were intensifying an arms race in Asia.

SINGAPORE - Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu told Asia's top security summit on Sunday (June 4) that conflict with the United States would be an "unbearable disaster" but that his country sought dialogue over confrontation.

Accusing “some countries” of fuelling an arms race in Asia, China’s Defence Minister, General Li Shangfu on Sunday warned that a war between his country and the US would be an “unbearable disaster” for the world,

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu told Asia's top security summit on Sunday that conflict with the United States would be an "unbearable disaster" but that his country sought dialogue over confrontation.

China’s defence minister has said war with the US would be an “unbearable disaster” for the world in his first major speech since taking on the role. At a security summit, General Li Shangfu said “some countries” were intensifying an arms race in Asia.

The United States should ease off military deployments close to China in an act of "good faith" if high-level defence talks between the two superpowers are to resume, a retired veteran Chinese diplomat said in Singapore on Sunday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, said Washington would not “flinch in the face of bullying or coercion” from China.