US-China tensions

The United States cannot “be safe if Asia is not safe”, declared the head of the Pentagon during a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, ensuring that the Asia-Pacific region remains a priority for Washington.

Austin referred to his Friday meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun; It was the first face-to-face meeting of defense ministers from the two countries in more than two years. Despite long-standing differences on Taiwan and tensions in the South China Sea, the United States and China stress the importance of “keeping communication channels open” to avoid possible misunderstandings, he said. he declares.

The head of the Pentagon also referred to the statement of the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who the day before, at the Singapore conference, said that if a citizen of his country died in the South China Sea as a result actions of the Chinese services, it would be “very, very close to what we call an act of war”.

Austin said “a lot can happen at sea or in the air, but our goal is to ensure things don’t get unnecessarily out of control.”

China provokes

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles also spoke about China’s dangerous maneuvers in the South China Sea. He recalled several incidents that occurred in this area, including the firing of flares by a Chinese military plane at an Australian helicopter.

In turn, Indonesian expert Dewi Fortuna Anwar expressed the concerns of other countries in the region where China is increasingly aggressive in its territorial claims, suggesting that the emphasis on dialogue between the United States and China could come to the detriment of countries in the region. , notes the AP agency.

Austin responded that many controversial issues are best resolved through dialogue, but assured that Washington would continue to defend the rights of countries in the region.

“A war or fight with China, in my opinion, is neither imminent nor inevitable,” Austin noted.

“Leaders of the great powers must continue to work together to ensure that every effort is made to reduce the risk of misjudgments and misunderstandings,” he added. “Not every conversation will be pleasant, but it is important that we continue to talk to each other. It is also important that we continue to support our allies and partners in defending their interests,” Austin assured.