China, US defense officials meet in Singapore to discuss global and regional security issues

Asia-Pacific, News, US June 11, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Chinese Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe on the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 10.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe met at the sidelines of the IISS Asia Security Summit, which is also commonly known as the Shangri-la Dialogue, organized by a British think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies. It was the first time that the defense chiefs from the two countries held a face-to-face meeting.

Despite standing firm on their opposing views related to regional and international peace and security, the U.S. and Chinese officials decided to keep the channels of communication open.

After the meeting, Chinese and U.S. officials highlighted that the meeting lasted for about 55 minutes, almost double the expected and designated time for the meeting. The two officials exchanged views in a ‘candid’ manner as the talks ‘went smoothly’.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense release, “Secretary Austin discussed the need to responsibly manage competition and maintain open lines of communication.” The U.S. defense secretary also underscored “the importance of the People’s Liberation Army engaging in substantive dialogue on improving crisis communications and reducing strategic risk.”

*^{Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe. (Image Credit: China’s Ministry of National Defense/via CGTN)}*

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stated that General Wei reiterated Beijing’s firm stance on Taiwan, that it is part of China. “The PLA [People’s Liberation Army] would have no choice but to fight at any cost and crush any attempt of Taiwan independence, safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the spokesman said.

From the U.S. side, Austin called on China to “refrain from further destabilizing actions” on Taiwan. The official statement from the U.S. Department of Defense stated that Austin reiterated that the United States remains committed to “longstanding one China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances.”

Austin told Wei that the United States will continue to provide arms with defensive character to Taiwan as called for under the Taiwan Relations Act, from which he also read a chapter and some verses to stress the part about the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait “being of grave concern” to the United States.

The U.S. defense secretary also mentioned that according to the same act, “the United States will maintain the capacity to resist any resort to force that threatens the security of the people of Taiwan,” the official said.

*^{U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III. (Image Credit: Alex Brandon/AP)}*

While speaking about the ongoing war in Ukraine the two officials also shared their different stances on the matter, the U.S. side urged the Chinese side to stop providing material support to Russia in its war in Ukraine.

This was the first time that the forum is taking place with in-person sessions after two years of COVID-related restrictions.