Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that regional stability in Asia Pacific depended on what the United States decided in the coming months and warned that the ball was in the US court as to whether to create tensions or de-escalate them in the region.

In a policy speech delivered at the ASEAN secretariat in Central Jakarta, the first public appearance for the senior Chinese diplomat following his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Wang said China was waiting on a response from the US on his proposal for the establishment of rules for positive interactions and the upholding of regionalism in the Asia-Pacific.

"We're looking forward to getting a response from the United States [...] and to see if they can change their hegemonic mentality," Wang said in response to a question from The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Wang also said that China had no imperial ambitions in the region and that it put a premium on stability as a foundation for prosperity.

"We don't want colonialism, we just want prosperity for our people," Wang said.

Wang's statements came only two days after he engaged in a dialogue with Blinken on Sunday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali.

Blinken characterized the meeting as "constructive" and that the US was committed to managing its relationship with China responsibly.

Popular

New Dutch coalition government wants 'strictest' asylum policy

Single-class hospital care scheme will not affect premiums yet, BPJS says

Ukrainians, Russian face death over Bali drug lab: Police