The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, recently held an in-person meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, marking the first such exchange between the two nations’ defense ministers in over a year and a half. This crucial encounter occurred on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security summit taking place in Singapore.
During their meeting, Austin and Dong engaged in discussions surrounding global and regional security dynamics, with special emphasis on key issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. In line with these discussions, the Pentagon issued a statement addressing U.S. concerns regarding what they perceived as “provocative” actions taken by the Chinese military around Taiwan.
It is essential to note that while the United States does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it has established strong ties with the democratic island under the framework outlined in the Taiwan Relations Act. This legislation mandates Washington’s support for providing Taipei with the necessary means to defend itself against potential aggressors.
During their talks, Austin emphasized the United States’ commitment to its “longstanding one China policy,” a policy that is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. Furthermore, he reaffirmed the significance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
The two defense leaders also discussed future plans for exchanges between their respective militaries. However, no further details were provided on these potential engagements.
According to the Pentagon’s statement, both the United States and China have agreed to resume telephone conversations between theater commanders in the coming months. In addition, they plan to establish a crisis-communications working group by the end of the year. These moves signal an effort to rebuild communication channels between the two nations, which have seen a significant decline in recent years, reflecting a sharp deterioration in relations between these global rivals.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is set to address the Shangri-La Dialogue forum on Saturday morning, while his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, will deliver his speech on Sunday. This high-profile security summit offers an important platform for both nations’ defense leaders to engage in dialogue and foster better understanding amidst a complex and evolving geopolitical landscape.