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Chinese defence minister says war with U.S. would be a disaster

SINGAPORE, June 2 (Reuters) - Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe criticised the United States on Sunday for its support of an independent Taiwan and for naval operations in the disputed South China Sea, but said conflict or war between the two countries would be a disaster.

In a speech at an Asian defence summit in Singapore, Wei said China would "fight to the end" anyone who tried to split China from Taiwan, which Beijing considers a sacred territory to be reclaimed by force if necessary. (Reporting by Lee Chyen Yee; writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)