May 31 :Singapore:
In the coming months," US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin announced following a meeting with his Chinese colleague Dong Jun in Singapore on Friday, resuming military-to-military interactions between the US and China.
A Pentagon report states that during their discussion on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Austin and Dong spoke about US-China defence cooperation and regional and global security concerns.
In the midst of tense regional tensions, the heads of defence of the United States and China met for the first time in person in 18 months. Just days ago, China reportedly decried U.S. efforts to fortify security ties with important allies like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, and it aggressively asserted disputed territorial claims in the East and South China Seas by conducting a massive two-day military drill encircling Taiwan, according to CNN.
Department of Defence Press Secretary Pat Ryder stated that Austin, during his discussion with his Chinese counterpart today, stressed the significance of keeping the channels of communication open between the US and China's militaries.
According to a statement released by the Department of Defence Press Secretary Pat Ryder following the meeting, Austin stressed the significance of keeping the channels of communication open between the US military and China's military.
In November 2023, US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping announced that both sides will resume telephone communications between theatre commanders in the next months. Austin corroborates this news. The US Department of Defence said that the US Defence Secretary had expressed his approval of the plans to establish a working group covering crisis communications before the year's end.
Austin voiced his disapproval of China's recent assertive military actions in the Taiwan Strait and emphasised once again that Beijing should not exploit the political transition in Taiwan, which is a natural and expected democratic process, to justify coercive actions. This month, President Lai Ching-te was inaugurated and the Taiwanese presidential election was place.
The senior US defence official reaffirmed America's steadfast adherence to the "one China" policy that has guided US-China relations since the Taiwan Relations Act, three US-China joint communiqués, and the Six Assurances. In addition, he stressed once again how critical it is to keep the Taiwan Strait calm and peaceful.
Additionally, Australia has made it plain that the US will keep flying, sailing, and operating in a responsible and safe manner wherever international law permits. In particular, he brought attention to the South China Sea as an area where the freedom of navigation promised by international law must be respected.
In addition to Russia's aggression towards Ukraine, which it has not provoked, the top US defence official spoke about China's assistance to Russia's defence industry. "The Secretary also expressed concerns about recent provocations from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including its direct contributions to Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine," according to the statement. After a video teleconference call between Austin and his Chinese colleague on April 16, today's meeting will follow.
After the meeting, the Pentagon announced that US officials will keep talking to their Chinese counterparts about future plans for defence and military activities on various levels. The Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual meeting, started today and will conclude on Sunday. It is being attended by defence chiefs and officials from all across the globe.
Later today, President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines will give the keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue. The 2018 forum featured a keynote address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leaders from Singapore, Japan, and Australia have all spoken as keynote speakers, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Kishida Fumino, and Lee Hsien Loong.
