US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was deeply concerned by China’s unwillingness to engage in military crisis management, warning that talks are key to avoiding conflict.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, Asia’s top security summit, Austin said open lines of communication between US and Chinese defense and military leaders were essential to avoid conflict and bolster stability. in the Asia-Pacific region.
“I am deeply concerned that the PRC (People’s Republic of China) has not been willing to engage more seriously in better crisis management mechanisms between our two militaries,” Austin said at the meeting in Singapore.
“The more we talk, the more we can avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict,” he said.
Austin specifically mentioned Chinese aircraft manufacturing “Risk intercepts of US and allied aircraft legally flying in international airspace.”
“We will not be deterred by dangerous operational behavior at sea or in international airspace,” he wrote in a series of tweets summarizing his summit address.
“Open lines of communication with the PRC are essential, especially between our military and defense leaders,” he said in another tweet.
“For responsible defense leaders, the right time to speak is any time, the right time to speak is every time, and the right time to speak is now,” he said.
“Dialogue is not a reward. It is a necessity”.
Dialogue is not a reward. it is a necessity
And the more we talk, the more we can avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict. pic.twitter.com/yHvkeVrLi4
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) June 3, 2023
Relations between Beijing and Washington are at their lowest point in decades, with China and the US deeply divided over everything from Taiwan sovereignty to maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
Austin pointed to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as an example of “how dangerous our world would become if big countries could simply invade their peaceful neighbors with impunity.”
He said the United States was “deeply committed” to preserving the status quo in Taiwan and opposed unilateral changes by either side.
“The conflict is not imminent or inevitable. The deterrence is strong today and it is our job to keep it that way,” Austin said.
“To be clear, we are not looking for conflict or confrontation,” he said. “But we will not back down from intimidation or coercion.”
US military officials have previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on his military to build up capabilities for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027.
“It doesn’t mean that he has made the decision to do that,” Austin said in response to a question about Xi’s plans for Taiwan.
China’s Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu had this week he declined an invitation to meet Austin at the summit. The two shook hands on the sidelines of the conference but did not hold detailed discussions, the Pentagon said.
“A friendly handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantial commitment,” Austin said. “The United States is not looking for a new Cold War. Competition must never turn into conflict,” he said.
‘Is there any sincerity?’
Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi, reporting from Singapore, said the overarching theme of Austin’s speech was to keep the Asia-Pacific region “open, open to trade, open to freedom of movement.”
“He also warned that a conflict in the Taiwan Straits, if it occurred, would have a devastating effect on the rest of the world,” Looi said.
Austin also said the United States will continue to strengthen partnerships and alliances in the region by conducting more military exercises and ensuring partners have the ability to deter aggression, Looi said.
“What is China doing with its speech?”
“We know that China sees many of the US actions here as attempts to contain its influence and encircle it, and this summit comes at a time when US-China ties are becoming increasingly strained,” Looi said. .
Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said in an emailed statement on Friday that communication between China and the US was leading to greater mutual understanding.
“However, now the United States says it wants to talk to China as it seeks to suppress China by any means possible and continues to impose sanctions on Chinese officials, institutions, and companies,” the statement said.
“Is there sincerity and meaning in any communication like this?”
Another recent pain point has been high-end microchips.with Beijing saying last month that US semiconductor giant Micron had failed a national security review and would not be allowed to sell to operators of “critical information infrastructure.”
The announcement came after Washington and its allies took steps in recent months that China said were designed to restrict its ability to buy or make next-generation chips and curb its growing global power.
Beijing also criticized a deal announced by Australia in March to buy US nuclear-powered submarines.
Australia is willing to spend A$368 billion ($250 billion) over three decades on the submarine programme, part of a broader security pact with the United States and Britain known as AUKUS.
“(AUKUS) promotes greater stability and security,” Austin said.
Beijing views AUKUS as yet another attempt by the West to rein in China as a rising global power.
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