U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III smiles as he speaks in the course of the twentieth International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s annual protection and safety discussion board in Singapore, Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Vincent Thian/AP

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Vincent Thian/AP

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III smiles as he speaks in the course of the twentieth International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s annual protection and safety discussion board in Singapore, Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Vincent Thian/AP

SINGAPORE — American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin vowed Saturday that Washington wouldn’t stand for any “coercion and bullying” of its allies and companions by China, whereas assuring Beijing that the United States stays dedicated to sustaining the established order on Taiwan and would like dialogue over battle.

Speaking on the so-called Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual discussion board bringing collectively high protection officers, diplomats and leaders, Austin lobbied for help for Washington’s imaginative and prescient of a “free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific within a world of rules and rights” as one of the best course to counter growing Chinese assertiveness within the area.

The U.S. has been increasing its personal actions across the Indo-Pacific to counter sweeping territorial claims from China, together with frequently crusing by and flying over the Taiwan Strait and within the South China Sea.

“We are committed to ensuring that every country can fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” he stated on the discussion board hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies suppose tank. “And every country, large or small, must remain free to conduct lawful maritime activities.”

Austin famous that the U.S. had supplied hundreds of thousands of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the course of the peak of the pandemic and is frequently concerned in catastrophe reduction and humanitarian help efforts within the area. He stated it’s working to fight local weather change, unlawful fishing and make sure that provide chains don’t undergo disruptions — ticking off many problems with significance to Asian-Pacific nations.

“We’re doubling down on our alliances and partnerships,” he stated.

He stated the U.S. can be dedicated to deterring North Korea’s missile menace and China’s claims on Taiwan, a self-governing island democracy that Beijing says is its territory, and stated Washington has been stepping up protection planning, coordination and coaching with companion nations within the area.

“To be clear, we do not seek conflict or confrontation,” he stated. “But we will not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion.”

Chinese Lt. Gen. Jing Jianfeng, a senior member of the delegation accompanying Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu, accused Austin of “overtly or covertly making false accusations against China” in his tackle.

Speaking with reporters after Austin spoke, Jing alleged the U.S. has been “deceiving and exploiting” Asia-Pacific nations to advance its personal self-interests to protect “its dominant position” within the area.

He steered that Washington has been holding on to alliances which are “remnants of the Cold War” and establishing new pacts, just like the AUKUS settlement with Britain and Australia and the “Quad” grouping with Australia, India and Japan “to divide the world into ideologically-driven camps and provoke confrontation.”

Jing, who took no questions, stated that against this, “China, is committed to the region’s development and prosperity.”

Austin sought to guarantee China that the U.S. remained “deeply committed” to the longstanding one-China coverage, which acknowledges Beijing as the federal government of China however permits casual relations with Taiwan, and continues to “categorically oppose unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.”

He added that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had served to underline how harmful the world can be if massive nations have been capable of “just invade their peaceful neighbors with impunity.”

“Conflict is neither imminent nor inevitable,” Austin stated. “Deterrence is strong today — and it’s our job to keep it that way. The whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”

But Jing accused the U.S. of hollowing out the one-China coverage, accusing Washington of supporting Taiwanese separatists with out citing any proof, and reiterating Beijing’s declare that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s sovereign territory.”

“There’s no room for us to concede or compromise,” he stated.

He added that “China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and the adjacent waters.”

Li, who grew to become China’s protection minister in March, declined Austin’s invitation to speak on the sidelines of the convention, although the 2 did shake fingers earlier than sitting down at reverse sides of the identical desk collectively because the discussion board opened Friday.

Austin stated this was not sufficient.

“A cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantive engagement,” he stated.

Li, who was named protection minister in March, is beneath American sanctions which are a part of a broad bundle of measures in opposition to Russia — however predate its invasion of Ukraine — that have been imposed in 2018 over Li’s involvement in China’s buy of fight plane and anti-aircraft missiles from Moscow.

The sanctions, which broadly forestall Li from doing enterprise within the United States, don’t forestall him from holding official talks, American protection officers have stated.

It was not clear whether or not Li, who’s to handle the discussion board Sunday morning, was within the room whereas Austin talked. He did be part of the American protection secretary and others later for a ministerial roundtable.

Austin reiterated calls that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made in his opening tackle on the discussion board for China to have interaction in common, direct communications to assist forestall any potential battle.

“For responsible defense leaders, the right time to talk is anytime,” Austin stated. “The right time to talk is every time. And the right time to talk is now.”

Jing stated, nevertheless, that strains of communication wanted to be primarily based upon “mutual respect.”

“But the U.S. has been calling for communications on one hand and undermining China’s interests and concerns on the other,” he stated.

The U.S. has famous that since 2021 — effectively earlier than Li grew to become protection minister — China has declined or failed to answer greater than a dozen requests from the U.S. Defense Department to speak with senior leaders, in addition to a number of requests for standing dialogues and working-level engagements.