“The DRC’s moves threaten to undermine security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” Austin said, using the acronym to refer to the country by its official name, the People’s Republic of China.
He cited a number of areas where he said China smelled of its neighbors, including sending large numbers of fighter jets into the skies near Taiwan, dangerous interceptions of US allied patrol planes and illegal fishing businesses looting its territory. ».
Taiwan played a key role in Austin’s speech, as well as during a bilateral meeting between Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Feng on Friday night.
During the meeting, both sides accused the other of trying to change the decades-old status quo on the self-governing island of Taiwan.
Austin on Saturday denied any such move by Washington.
“We are determined to maintain the status quo that has served this region so well for so long,” he said. Under the “One China” policy, the United States recognizes China’s position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never formally recognized Beijing’s claim of a 23 million people.
But Austin said China operated differently.
“We are witnessing a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan. This includes PLA aircraft flying near Taiwan in record numbers in recent months – and on an almost daily basis,” he said, referring to Chinese warplane flights in the Zone. Taiwan Air Defense Recognition.
For its part, China on Friday accused Washington of threatening the status quo on the island with things like arms sales, which Beijing said had “seriously undermined China’s sovereignty and security interests.”
In his meeting with Austin, Wei reiterated China’s long-held position that it was ready to go to war if Taiwan declared its independence from the mainland.
Defense Minister Wei Fenghe stressed that if anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will spare no effort to fight and destroy any attempt to “independence Taiwan” at any cost and to resolutely safeguard “territorial integrity,” Wu said. Qian, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Defense, told a news conference after the meeting.
Austin said on Saturday that the United States did not want a war in the region.
“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.
However, Austin said Washington was steadfast in its support for its allies and partners.
And his accusations against China on Saturday far exceeded Taiwan.
“In the East China Sea, China’s expanding fishing fleet is fueling tensions with its neighbors. In the South China Sea, China is using outposts on man-made islands full of advanced weapons to advance its illegal smuggling. , Austin said.
“We see (Chinese) ships looting the rules of the region, operating illegally in the territorial waters of other Indo-Pacific countries. And further west, we see Beijing continuing to harden its position along the border shared by India.”
“Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow”
Earlier in the day, Austin cited Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an example of the “turmoil” it can cause when nations deviate from international law. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is what happens when the oppressors break the rules that protect us all,” he said. “This is what happens when the great powers decide that their imperial appetites are more important than the rights of their peaceful neighbors. And it is a preview of a possible world of chaos and unrest in which none of us would like to live.” How a war off a continent could affect the security of the Pacific also brought to the fore Friday night Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a keynote address in Shangri-La. “Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow,” he said, adding that Tokyo would significantly increase its defense budget to ensure its security. “We will not rule out any option, including so-called ‘counterattack capabilities,’ and we will look realistically at what is needed to protect the lives and livelihoods of our people,” he said. Austin on Saturday noted the major roles played by Japan and other US policy allies in the Pacific, listing a number of joint military exercises in which they have participated. Another of these partners is India, which along with Japan and Australia is a member of the informal Quad alliance. “We also have closer ties with other partners,” Austin said. “I am thinking in particular of India, the largest democracy in the world. We believe that its growing military capability and technological capability can be a stabilizing force in the region.” In a key move in Oceania, where China is pushing for new security and economic deals with small island nations, Austin said Washington was making “unprecedented” US Coast Guard investments. This will include for the first time the permanent installation of a Coast Guard cutter in the area for the first time, he said. Austin said the Biden government was ready to emerge as the leader and guarantor of the free and open Indo-Pacific that it embraces. “The great powers have great responsibilities,” Austin said. “And so we will do our duty to manage these tensions responsibly, to prevent conflicts and to pursue peace and prosperity.”
