United States: The United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, has pledged that the United States will not tolerate any form of coercion or intimidation directed towards its allies and partners by China. At the same time, Mr. Austin assured Beijing that the US remains committed to maintaining the current situation regarding Taiwan and prefers peaceful dialogue to conflict.

During his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a prominent security summit in Asia, Mr. Austin sought support for the US’s vision of an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, and secure, operating within a framework of rules and rights. This approach is seen as the most effective way to address China’s growing assertiveness in the area.

Despite being invited to engage in a conversation with Mr. Austin at the conference, China’s Minister of National Defense General Mr. Li Shangfu, declined the invitation.

Mr. Austin noted that he was deeply concerned by China’s unwillingness to “engage more seriously” in military crisis management, warning that talks were key to avoiding conflict.

“The more that we talk, the more that we can avoid the misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict,” the Defense Secretary noted.

The US has been expanding its own activities around the Indo-Pacific to counter sweeping territorial claims from China, including regularly sailing through and flying over the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea.

“To be clear, we do not seek conflict or confrontation. But we will not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion,” Mr. Austin remarked.

According to the Defense Secretary, the US remained “deeply committed” to the longstanding one-China policy, which recognised Beijing as the government of China but allowed informal relations with Taiwan, and continued to “categorically oppose unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.”

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