Lloyd Austin: US will maintain its military presence in Asia

The United States will do its part to manage tensions with China and prevent a conflict, although Beijing is becoming more aggressive in the Asian region, including Taiwan, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said today.

Relations between China and the United States have deteriorated in recent months as the world’s two largest economies are at loggerheads over a range of issues: from Taiwan and human rights in China to military activity in the South China Sea.

At a meeting between the two countries’ defense ministers on Friday, a common will was expressed for better management of Washington-Beijing relations, but there was no sign of significant progress in resolving their differences.

Addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s largest security forum, Lloyd Austin emphasized that the United States would continue to support its allies, including Taiwan. “This is particularly important as China takes a more pushy and aggressive approach to its territorial claims,” ​​he said.

China claims that self-governing Taiwan belongs to it and has pledged to seize it by force if necessary.

Austin said there had been a “worrying” increase in the number of dangerous and unprofessional incidents between Chinese aircraft or ships and others from foreign countries.

A Chinese fighter jet has intercepted an Australian military surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea in May, and the Canadian Ministry of Defense has complained that Chinese fighter jets harassed a Canadian Korea.

Taiwan has been complaining for years about repeated violations (by Chinese Air Force aircraft) of the Air Defense Recognition Zone (ADIZ). Austin pointed out that such flights of Chinese aircraft have increased significantly in recent months.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry thanked the United States on Friday for its support and denounced China’s “absurd” claims of sovereignty. “Taiwan has never been under the jurisdiction of the Chinese government and its people are not going to succumb to threats of violence,” said Taiwanese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joan Wu.

Lloyd Austin stressed that US policy on Taiwan is opposed to any unilateral changes in the status quo. “Our policy has not changed. But unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case for China,” he said. conflict and the pursuit of peace and prosperity. ”

President Biden had warned last month that the United States would be militarily involved if China invaded Taiwan, although the US government has since made it clear that the White House’s policy has not changed. Washington has for years adopted a policy of ambiguity strategy over whether to defend Taiwan by military means.

The issue of Taiwan dominated the talks between the US and Chinese defense ministers. “Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits is not just in the US interest. It is a matter of international interest,” Austin said.

“No” to an Asian NATO

In a speech focusing on the US commitment to security in the region, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the United States would maintain a military presence in Asia, stressing that Washington understands the need to prevent conflict.

“We are not seeking confrontation or conflict. And we are not seeking a new Cold War, an Asian NATO or an area divided into enemy blocs,” he said.

He also referred to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has been a priority for the White House and other Western governments for the past three months. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is what happens when tyrants break the rules that protect us all,” Austin said. .

Earlier this year, the US government said China was ready to back Russia in its war against Ukraine. Since then, however, US officials have expressed reservations about China’s long-standing support for Russia, as the military and financial assistance they have provided has not materialized, at least for now.

China has not condemned the Russian attack and does not call it an “invasion”, but has called for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Beijing and Moscow have upgraded their relationship in recent years and signed a strategic partnership agreement in February to address US influence, stressing that they will not have “forbidden” areas of cooperation.