Vincent Thian/AP
US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin arrives for the opening dinner for the Shangri-La Dialogue, the annual defense and security forum in Asia, in Singapore, on June 2.
Singapore
CNN
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A war against Taiwan could be “devastating” and affect the global economy “in ways we cannot imagine,” warned US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, as he emphasized US support for the island’s democracy.
“Conflict is neither imminent nor inevitable. Deterrence is strong now – and it’s our job to keep it that way,” Austin said in remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit on Saturday, which was attended by representatives from several countries including China.
“The whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The security of commercial shipping lanes and global supply chains depends on it. And so does freedom of navigation around the world. Make no mistake : the Taiwan Strait conflict could be disastrous.
In a question and answer session after his speech, Austin added: “The Taiwan Strait conflict will affect the global economy in ways we can’t even imagine.”
China’s ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory, although it does not yet control it, and increasing military exercises near and around the island have raised concerns about how far coming to fulfill that claim. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has clearly not ruled out the use of force.
Austin’s comments come at a tense time for relations between the US and China, as China recently rejected an offer from Austin to meet at the summit in Singapore, citing sanctions. in the US by Chinese officials and companies.
Austin addressed the lack of communication in his speech on Saturday, saying he was “deeply concerned” that the People’s Republic of China “is not prepared to engage more seriously in better mechanisms for crisis management.”
“For responsible leaders, the right time to talk is anytime. The right time to talk is every time. And the right time to talk is now,” Austin said. “Dialogue is not a you reward It is a necessity.”
Austin noted that he and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu greeted each other with smiles at a banquet on Friday night, but called on Beijing to do more.
“A warm handshake at dinner is no substitute for serious companionship,” he said.
Throughout his speech, Austin listed the ways the US works with allies in the region, saying those partnerships bring the region closer together and make it “stronger and stronger.”
Austin reaffirmed that the US “will continue to stand by our allies and partners as they uphold their rights,” and maintain “our strong, responsible presence throughout the Indo-Pacific.”
Criticizing China for the “alarming number of dangerous intercepts of US and allied aircraft” in international airspace, Austin added that the US would support allies and partners against “coercion and bullying.”
“We’re not looking for conflict or confrontation,” Austin said. “But we will not stop in the face of bullying or coercion.”
Austin also reaffirmed US readiness in the region.
“The way you prevent any wrong decisions is to have a military that is reliable in combat,” he said in response to a question, adding that the US “will be prepared no matter what happens. ”
Drew Thompson, a senior research fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said Austin has set a “positive and inclusive” vision for the region, adding that it is a vision- that has benefited Beijing for decades.
The next step is Beijing. Defense Minister Li spoke at the Shangri-La forum on Sunday morning.
“It will be interesting to see how General Li responds tomorrow,” Thompson said.
“In many ways the door is open for China to cooperate with the US and other countries in the region to contribute to stability,” he said.
