conflicts
China accuses Lloyd Austin of “false allegations”.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue Asian Security Forum in Singapore. photo
© Vincent Thian/AP/dpa
US Secretary of Defense Austin warns China against military action against Taiwan in a speech at the Asian security forum Shangri-La Dialogue. China responds.
China has accused US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin of making “false allegations”. Responding to Austin’s speech at the Asian security forum Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Chinese delegation spokesman Jing Jianfeng said the US Indo-Pacific strategy is only a continuation of American hegemony.
The US provoked a confrontation between the blocs, the lieutenant general said, according to Chinese state media. Out of self-interest, the US disregarded the desire of states in the region for stability and put other countries under pressure. The US also expanded its troop deployments, regularly held targeted maneuvers, provoked and undermined peace and stability.
In his speech, Austin warned China against military action against Taiwan. A conflict would be “devastating” and would have serious consequences for the global economy. The US Secretary of Defense also opposed “harassment and coercion” against other countries and rejected the far-reaching Chinese territorial claims, particularly in the South China Sea.
The day before, China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu had again threatened to conquer Taiwan. He will be speaking at the security forum on Sunday. China regards Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic. The island republic, which has 23 million inhabitants, has had an independent government for more than seven decades.