The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has demonstrated little interest in engaging in serious talks with the United States about the fraying relationship between the global superpowers and the potentially catastrophic consequences, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Austin placed the importance of such talks front and center during a June 3 speech at the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue, a major international security conference held annually in Singapore.
The annual event brings together national defense, security, and military chiefs with the aim of building and strengthening community and exploring sectors of common interest in the Indo-Pacific region.
Austin didn’t lead with the issue. He spoke first about alliances, goals that countries presently share, economic and military partnerships, cooperation in commerce, and broad hopes to improve the lives of those in that part of the world. He talked about a common effort to address and defend against North Korean missiles.
The defense secretary made a forceful and spirited condemnation of Russia and its invasion of Ukraine.
Austin, in his comments, arrived at China and the matter of Taiwan, the self-governing democratic island located 70 miles across the Taiwan Strait from the Chinese mainland that the CCP claims as part of its territory.
He used the speech to make an attempt at diplomacy beyond the brief and perfunctory handshake he shared with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu at the conference’s opening dinner a day earlier.
Austin emphasized and gave assurances that the United States is committed to its allies and is engaged in the region.
“We will maintain our vigorous, responsive, and responsible presence across the Indo-Pacific,” he said. “And will continue to work to ensure that no one country can assert control over shared waterways in the South China Sea.
“We will continue to work with our allies and partners to uphold the freedom of navigation and overflight.”
Austin brought up the CCP’s recent provocative and belligerent conduct.
“We won’t be deterred by dangerous operational behavior at sea or in international airspace,” Austin said. “The People’s Republic of China continues to conduct an alarming number of risky intercepts of U.S. and allied aircraft flying lawfully in international air.
“We’ve all just seen another troubling case of aggressive and unprofessional flying by the PRC [People’s Republic of China]. So we will support our allies and partners as they defend themselves against coercion and bullying.
Taiwan
The most volatile and dangerous element in U.S.–China tensions, and what it represents to the security of the United States and international order, concerns the island of Taiwan.The regime in Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province that must be united with the mainland by any means necessary, even though Taiwan has never been ruled by the CCP and has its own democratic government.
While the United States has no official diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, the island is a strategic business partner, one with which the United States does billions of dollars in business yearly, including the sales of weapons for Taiwan’s defense.
The Taiwan Relations Act provides a legal basis for the United States to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself but doesn’t mandate that the United States come to Taiwan’s aid if attacked. Yet President Joe Biden has said that the United States will come to Taiwan’s aid if the island is attacked.
There’s no shortage of leading military strategists and spymasters that are convinced that China will launch an armed takeover of Taiwan.
Austin expanded on his guarantee that the United States is pledged to help its allies and prevent a single nation from controlling the Indo-Pacific.
“Now, all of this is especially important in the Taiwan Strait,” he said. “I like to be clear about another point—the United States remains deeply committed to preserving the status quo in the Strait, consistent with our longstanding one-China policy and with fulfilling our well-established obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act.”
Austin spoke about the importance of keeping peace in that part of the world, as armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait could unsettle and disrupt the entire planet. He said that, contrary to widely held opinion, conflict can be avoided and need not happen.
“I’d like to highlight that conflict is neither imminent nor inevitable,” he said. “Deterrence is strong today—and it’s our job to keep it that way.
“You know, the whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait—the whole world. The security of commercial shipping lanes and global supply chains depends on it. And so does freedom of navigation worldwide.
“But make no mistake: conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating.
“So we are determined to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. And so are a number of other countries around the world—and that number continues to grow.”
Austin said Biden doesn’t want another “Cold War.”
Austin called for the United States and China to talk, and he hoped that the CCP would dispense with its resistance to doing so.
“For responsible defense leaders, the right time to talk is anytime,” he said. “The right time to talk is every time. And the right time to talk is now.
“Dialogue is not a reward. It is a necessity. And a cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantive engagement.”
