Global Courant
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was deeply concerned about China’s reluctance to participate in military crisis management, warning that talks are key to avoiding conflict.
Speaking Saturday at Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s most important 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) is unwilling to work more seriously on better crisis management mechanisms between our two militaries,” Austin told the Singapore meeting.
“The more we talk, the more we can avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict,” he said.
Austin specifically reported Chinese aircraft making “high-risk interceptions of U.S. and allied aircraft legally flying in international airspace.”
“We are not deterred by dangerous operational behavior at sea or in international airspace,” he wrote in a series of tweets summarizing his address to the summit.
“Open lines of communication with the People’s Republic of China are essential – especially between our defense and military leaders,” he said in another tweet.
“For responsible defense leaders, the right time to talk is any time, the right time to talk every time, and the right time to talk is now,” he said.
“Dialogue is not a reward. It’s a necessity.”
Dialogue is not a reward. It’s a necessity.
And the more we talk, the more we can avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations that can 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 both China and the US deeply divided over everything from Taiwan’s 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 major countries could simply invade their peaceful neighbors with impunity”.
He said the US was “deeply committed” to preserving the status quo in Taiwan and opposed unilateral changes from either side.
“Conflicts are neither imminent nor inevitable. Deterrence is strong today and it is our job to keep it that way,” said Austin.
“To be clear, we are not seeking conflict or confrontation,” he said. “But we will not shy away from bullying or coercion.”
US military officials have previously said Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on his military forces to develop capabilities for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027.
“It doesn’t mean he’s made a decision to do that,” Austin said in response to a question about Xi’s plans for Taiwan.
China’s National Defense Minister Li Shangfu this week had turned down an invitation to meet Austin at the summit. The two shook hands on the sidelines of the conference but did not engage in detailed talks, the Pentagon said.
“A cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantive engagement,” said Austin. “The United States is not striving for a new Cold War. Competition should never lead to conflict,” he said.
“Is there any sincerity?”
Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi, reporting from Singapore, said the main 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 Strait, if it happened, would have a devastating effect on the rest of the world,” Looi said.
Austin also said the U.S. would continue to strengthen partnerships and alliances in the region by holding more military exercises and ensuring partners would be able to deter aggression, Looi said.
“What does China think of his speech?”
“We know that China views many of the US actions here as attempts to contain and encircle its influence, and this summit is taking place as US-China ties are increasingly strained,” Looi said.
Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said in an emailed statement on Friday that communication between China and the US was conducive to greater mutual understanding.
“However, now the US says it wants to talk to the Chinese side as it seeks to suppress China by any means necessary and continue to impose sanctions on Chinese officials, institutions and companies,” the statement said.
“Is there any sincerity and meaning in communication like this?”
Another recent sticking point was 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 “critical information infrastructure” operators.
The announcement came after Washington and its allies took steps in recent months that China claimed were designed to limit its ability to buy or produce advanced chips and curb its growing global power.
Beijing has also criticized a deal announced in March by Australia to buy US nuclear-powered submarines.
Australia will spend 368 billion Australian dollars ($250 billion) over three decades on the submarine program, part of a wider security pact with the US and UK known as AUKUS.
“(AUKUS) promotes greater stability and security,” Austin said.
Beijing sees AUKUS as yet another attempt by the West to limit China as a growing world power.
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