US Defense Secretary Criticizes China’s Aerial Interceptions in the Indo-Pacific Region
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin condemned China’s dangerous aerial interceptions over the South China Sea during his speech at the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore, warning that Washington would not be deterred by threatening behavior in the Indo-Pacific region. Austin urged Chinese officials to engage with the Pentagon and emphasized that dialogue is not a reward but a necessity. He indirectly called on China to work with the United States on stabilizing relations and increasing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Austin also criticized China by pointing out Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and noted the importance of countries, which are free to prosper on their own terms without coercion, intimidation, or bullying.
China’s Risky Interceptions of U.S. and Allied Aircraft
China has been carrying out an alarming number of risky interceptions of US and allied aircraft, which are legally flying in international airspace. The pentagon recently released a video showing a Chinese fighter jet flying dangerously close to the American spy plane. Lloyd Austin also pointed out that China’s threats and coercion in the Indo-Pacific region would not deter the US from maintaining its strategic interests. He accused China of making risky interceptions and being a threat to peace and stability in the region.
US Doubling Down on Its Alliances In the Indo-Pacific Region
Austin further stated that the US is doubling down on its alliances to secure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and is increasing coordination and training with its friends from the East China Sea to the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. He emphasized the need to increase interoperability between militaries and work towards common objectives. The progress made by the Pentagon is not enough, and the focus is to enhance effectiveness. He did not comment on the specifics of joint operational war plans with allies, particularly Japan and Australia, regarding the Taiwan contingency.
China’s Refusal to Greenlight a Visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken
The United States has been seeking high-level engagements with Chinese officials to stabilize relations, but China has been refusing to greenlight a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who canceled a trip to Beijing in February over an alleged Chinese spy balloon. The Financial Times reported on Friday that the CIA Director Bill Burns made a secret trip to Beijing in May, meeting with Chinese intelligence officials. Two people familiar with the trip said China invited Burns to visit.
US Official Approves US Ship Sailing Through the Taiwan Strait
A US official revealed that a US ship was sailing through the Taiwan Strait while the Shangri-La dialogue was taking place. Beijing frequently clashes with US Navy sailboats in the waters between Taiwan and mainland China.
Additional Piece: The Impact of China’s Assertive Military Actions on the Indo-Pacific Region
China’s assertive actions and territorial claims have been causing increasing concerns among the countries in the Indo-Pacific region. China continues to claim sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, to the chagrin of neighboring countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and Vietnam. In 2016, a court at a Hague-based tribunal rejected China’s claim over the South China Sea, but Beijing still expanded its military and civilian infrastructure on the disputed islands. China’s “One Belt, One Road,” a global infrastructure program worth around $4 trillion, has also raised concerns about the country’s growing influence in the region.
China’s aggression has been fueling arms-race in the Indo-Pacific. Neighboring countries have been increasing their defense spending, maneuvering for a stronger military alliance with the United States, and acquiring advanced military hardware, such as submarines and fighter jets. The South China Sea is one of the busiest commercial routes, and the potential risk of miscalculations, misinterpretations, and accidental warfare cannot be underestimated.
China’s Belt and Road initiative has also faced criticism for seeking to enhance China’s strategic interests, both military and economic, in the Indo-Pacific. Critics argue that China’s debt diplomacy has saddled small countries with large debts and supported corrupt regimes in the Indo-Pacific. The debt burden may force small countries to submit to China’s interests, undermining their economic development and sovereignty.
Furthermore, China’s aggressive actions have raised concerns about the country’s human rights abuses, such as the treatment of the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang and the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
Conclusion
China’s assertive actions, territorial claims, and human rights abuses have been creating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. The United States has been doubling down on its alliances and increasing coordination and training with its friends to secure peace and stability, while China has been reluctant to engage in high-level conversations with the United States. The potential implications of China’s actions cannot be understated, necessitating further dialogue and cooperation between countries in the Indo-Pacific region to maintain peace and stability.
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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin criticized China on Saturday for carrying out dangerous aerial interceptions over the South China Sea and warned that Washington would not be deterred by threatening behavior in the Indo-Pacific region. .
China was making “an alarming number of risky interceptions of U.S. and allied aircraft legally flying in international airspace,” Austin said at the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore.
His remarks came days after the Pentagon released a video showing a Chinese fighter jet flying dangerously close to an American spy plane.
“We don’t seek conflict or confrontation, but we won’t flinch in the face of intimidation or coercion,” Austin said.
The annual Asia Security Forum hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank has often been one of the few places where US defense secretaries have met their Chinese counterparts. However, China this year declined an invitation from Austin for a meeting because the United States maintains sanctions against Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu.
On Friday, Austin attended a dinner where Li was present. The pair shook hands in their first interaction since Li, who speaks at the forum on Sunday, became defense minister in March.
In a speech that underscored US commitment to allies in the region, Austin indirectly called on China to engage with the Pentagon.
“For leaders responsible for defense, the right time to speak is anytime, the right time to speak is every time and the right time to speak is now. Dialogue is not a reward. It’s a necessity,” Austin said.
Asked if the Pentagon has made any progress in holding nuclear arms control talks with China, Austin said, “You have to talk to them first, so as soon as they answer the phone, maybe we’ll [talk].”
His comments come as the United States tries to launch high-level engagements with Chinese officials in a bid to stabilize relations. China has refused to greenlight a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who canceled a trip to Beijing in February over an alleged Chinese spy balloon.
But the Financial Times announced Friday that CIA Director Bill Burns made a secret trip to Beijing in May and met with Chinese intelligence officials. Two people familiar with the trip said China invited Burns to visit.
In his speech, Austin said Washington and its allies had made “significant progress” in securing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific in what he implied was a response to China.
“Increasingly, Indo-Pacific countries have come together around a compelling vision for the future,” Austin said. “It is a vision of a region in which all countries are free to prosper on their own terms – without coercion, intimidation or bullying.”
In another indirect reference to China amid concerns about possible military action against Taiwan, Austin said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “made people everywhere realize how dangerous our world would become if the great countries could simply invade their peaceful neighbors with impunity”.
He said the United States was “doubling down” on its alliances and “increasing planning, coordination and training with our friends from the East China Sea to the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean.”
Asked by the Financial Times if the United States was making progress in developing joint operational war plans with allies, particularly Japan and Australia, for a Taiwan contingency, Austin declined to comment on specifics.
But he said it was important to increase interoperability between militaries and that while the Pentagon had done a lot, the progress was “in no way where any of us would want to be in the end.”
A US official said a US ship was sailing through the Taiwan Strait while the Shangri-La dialogue was being held. Beijing frequently clashes with US Navy sailboats in the waters between Taiwan and mainland China.
https://www.ft.com/content/39b3bb7b-7d15-41fc-a62a-fde7876eda86
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