Relations between China and the United States have been strained in recent months, with the world’s two largest economies clashing over everything from Taiwan and China’s human rights record to its military activity in the South China Sea. At a meeting between Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Feng on Friday, both sides reiterated their desire to better manage their relationship, although there was no sign of any significant progress in resolving the dispute. read more Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia ‘s top security gathering, Austin said the United States would continue to stand by its allies, including Taiwan. “This is particularly important as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) takes a more coercive and aggressive approach to its territorial claims,” he said. China claims that self-governing Taiwan is its own and has pledged to seize it by force if necessary. Austin said there had been a “worrying” increase in the number of unsafe and unprofessional meetings between Chinese planes and ships with those of other countries. A Chinese fighter jet has dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance aircraft in the South China Sea region in May, and the Canadian military has accused Chinese warplanes of harassing its patrol aircraft while patrolling its submarines. Taiwan has been complaining for years about repeated Chinese air missions in the air defense identification zone, which is not airspace but a wider area monitored for threats. Austin said the incursions had increased in recent months. Taiwan’s foreign ministry on Friday thanked the United States for its support and denounced China’s “absurd” claims of sovereignty. Austin said US policy on Taiwan was to remain opposed to any unilateral changes to the status quo. “Our policy has not changed. But unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case in the DRC,” Austin said. However, he added: “We will do our part to manage these tensions responsibly, to prevent conflicts and to pursue peace and prosperity.” Later Saturday, Lt. Gen. Zhang Zhenzhong, vice president of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of China’s Central Military Commission, described Austin’s speech as a “confrontation.” US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin submits to the subcommittee of the Senate Credit Committee for Defense in Washington, USA, May 3, 2022. Win McNamee / Pool via REUTERS / File Photo “There have been many baseless allegations against China; we have expressed strong dissatisfaction and strong opposition to these false allegations,” Zhang said. “The United States is trying to form a small circle in the Asia-Pacific region, making ropes in some countries to incite against other countries.” Austin’s meeting with Wei focused heavily on Taiwan. “Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits is not just in the US interest. It is a matter of international concern,” Austin said.
NO ASIAN NATO
In a speech focusing on the US commitment to the region, Austin said the United States would maintain a presence in Asia, but Washington understood the need to prevent conflict. “We are not seeking confrontation or conflict. And we are not seeking a new Cold War, an Asian NATO or an area divided into enemy blocs,” he said. Austin also referred to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has been a priority in Washington and other Western capitals for the past three months. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is what happens when the oppressors break the rules that protect us all,” Austin said. “It is a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was scheduled to address the Shangri-La Dialogue in a virtual meeting later Saturday. Earlier this year, Washington said China seemed ready to help Russia in its war against Ukraine. But since then, U.S. officials have said, while remaining skeptical about China’s long-term support for Russia in general, the military and financial support they were concerned about has not materialized, at least for now. In a separate speech Saturday, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said military cooperation between China and Russia has heightened security concerns in the region. read more “Joint military operations between these two powerful military forces will undoubtedly increase concern among other countries,” he said. (This story corrects the speaker’s last name in paragraph 15.) Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Idrees Ali and Lin Chen. Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Gerry Doyle Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
