Why The US Worries About Provocative Actions From China
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has called on Beijing to resume bilateral security talks, warning that the incidents could “spin out of control” if the Chinese military continues to take provocative action in the waters and international airspace. At a press conference in Tokyo, Austin said he was “unfortunate” that Beijing refused the Pentagon’s request for him to meet Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu at a security forum in Singapore this week.
Crisis Communication Mechanism Lacking
US defense officials have warned that the lack of engagement between the military amid rising geopolitical tensions means they lack a crisis communications mechanism in the event of an accident at sea or in the air. In 2001, an American spy plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet off Hainan Island, forcing the American plane to make an emergency landing. The United States and Japan also discussed on Thursday working together to develop hypersonic missile defense capabilities using interceptors and enhancing cybersecurity, intelligence, and surveillance using drones.
The Importance Of Dialogue
Hamada also stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue with China, pointing to the defense hotline that Tokyo and Beijing began operating last month to minimize the risk of accidental confrontation between their armies, according to a Defense Ministry official. Beijing has rejected a meeting between Austin and Li at the Shangri-La dialogue this year because the United States has not lifted sanctions against its top defense official.
Austin Prepares For Singapore Forum
The warning comes as Austin prepares to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue safety forum in Singapore, where the issue of unsafe maneuvers is likely to be discussed. The Pentagon on Tuesday accused a Chinese fighter jet to make an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” near a US military aircraft over the South China Sea last week. Prior to the same forum a year ago, the United States had raised concerns about the growing number of incidents of Chinese aircraft allegedly carrying out alarming operations near American, Canadian and Australian aircraft.
US Officials Eyeing PRC Coercion
US officials had raised the issue with their counterparts when Austin met with then-Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe. “We are deeply concerned about the People’s Republic of China coercive behavior and its attempts to undermine the rules-based international order,” Austin said. The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Li in 2018 as part of China’s purchase of Russian fighters and missiles. The Pentagon had previously informed Beijing that the sanctions did not ban a meeting in Singapore, but Chinese officials said that would be inappropriate as long as the sanctions remained in place.
Failed North Korean Attempt Boosts Ties
One day after a failed North Korean attempt to launch a reconnaissance satellite into space, Hamada said the parties agreed to boost training and other areas of cooperation with allies, including South Korea and Australia.
Additional Piece
The tensions between China and the US have been an ongoing issue for years, and the situation is only getting more complicated. With Beijing showing no signs of backing down, the US is worried about the potential escalation of these conflicts.
One of the biggest worries is that the lack of communication between the two militaries could lead to an incident that would spiral out of control. This is why the US has been calling on Beijing to resume bilateral security talks and is pushing for regular communication between the defense departments.
Additionally, the US and its allies are looking for ways to bolster their defense capabilities. They are exploring hypersonic missile defense capabilities using interceptors and enhancing cybersecurity, intelligence, and surveillance using drones to ensure their military operations can be conducted with maximum safety.
Another area of key concern is China’s coercive behavior and attempts to undermine the rules-based international order. By purchasing Russian fighters and missiles, China has become a clear and present danger to global security. Imposing sanctions on Li is only one way to mitigate this problem, but there need to be more extensive actions taken to prevent China from undermining global security.
Though there are fears about the potential escalation of the conflict between the US and China, there is also good news in the form of newfound cooperation between the US, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. These countries have come together to combat North Korea’s aggressive missile program, and this joint effort could strengthen ties between them further.
In conclusion, the US is worried about provocative actions from China, and tensions between the two countries are running high. However, through regular communication, improved defenses, and joint efforts with allies, the US hopes to prevent these conflicts from escalating further. It’s important to keep an eye on this situation as it unfolds in the coming months and years.
Summary
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has called on Beijing to resume bilateral security talks, warning that the incidents could “spin out of control” if the Chinese military continues to take provocative action in the waters and international airspace. US defense officials have warned that the lack of engagement between the military amid rising geopolitical tensions means they lack a crisis communications mechanism in the event of an accident at sea or in the air. Hamada stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue with China, pointing to the defense hotline that Tokyo and Beijing began operating last month to minimize the risk of accidental confrontation between their armies. Additionally, the US and its allies are looking for ways to bolster their defense capabilities, exploring hypersonic missile defense capabilities using interceptors and enhancing cybersecurity, intelligence, and surveillance using drones to ensure their military operations can be conducted with maximum safety.
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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has called on Beijing to resume bilateral security talks, warning that the incidents could “spin out of control” if the Chinese military continues to take provocative action in the waters and international airspace.
At a press conference in Tokyo, Austin said he was “unfortunate” that Beijing refused the Pentagon’s request for him to meet Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu at a security forum in Singapore this week.
“I’m worried about . . . have an incident that could very, very quickly spiral out of control,” Austin said after meeting with his Japanese counterpart Yasukazu Hamada on Thursday. “I think the defense departments should talk to each other on a regular basis.”
The warning comes as Austin prepares to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue safety forum in Singapore, where the issue of unsafe maneuvers is likely to be discussed. The Pentagon on Tuesday accused a Chinese fighter jet to make an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” near a US military aircraft over the South China Sea last week.
Prior to the same forum a year ago, the United States had raised concerns about the growing number of incidents of Chinese aircraft allegedly carrying out alarming operations near American, Canadian and Australian aircraft. US officials had raised the issue with their counterparts when Austin met with then-Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe.
“We are deeply concerned about the [People’s Republic of China] coercive behavior and its attempts to undermine the rules-based international order,” Austin said.
US defense officials have warned that the lack of engagement between the military amid rising geopolitical tensions means they lack a crisis communications mechanism in the event of an accident at sea or in the air. . In 2001, an American spy plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet off Hainan Island, forcing the American plane to make an emergency landing.
Hamada also stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue with Chinapointing to the defense hotline that Tokyo and Beijing began operating last month to minimize the risk of accidental confrontation between their armies, according to a Defense Ministry official.
Beijing has rejected a meeting between Austin and Li at the Shangri-La dialogue this year because the United States has not lifted sanctions against its top defense official.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Li in 2018 as part of China’s purchase of Russian fighters and missiles. The Pentagon had previously informed Beijing that the sanctions did not ban a meeting in Singapore, but Chinese officials said that would be inappropriate as long as the sanctions remained in place.
The United States and Japan also discussed on Thursday working together to develop hypersonic missile defense capabilities using interceptors and enhancing cybersecurity, intelligence and surveillance using drones. Austin said countries would also cooperate on defense supply chains to deepen ties between their industrial bases.
One day after a failed North Korean attempt to launch a reconnaissance satellite into space, Hamada said the parties agreed to boost training and other areas of cooperation with allies including South Korea and Australia.
https://www.ft.com/content/c1a6f1fb-13f0-4104-9f43-156c4e31abea
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