SINGAPORE: The US and Chinese defence chiefs held a rare and crucial meeting in Singapore on Friday, raising hopes for renewed military dialogue that could prevent disputes over Taiwan and other flashpoints from escalating.
The face-to-face talks between the United States’ Lloyd Austin and China’s Dong Jun took place on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, marking the first substantive interaction between the two nations’ defence leaders in 18 months.
The meeting, which began shortly before 1:00 pm at the luxury hotel hosting the security forum, was attended by defence chiefs and officials from around the world. The forum has become an important barometer of US-China relations, especially amidst recent tensions.
This year’s Shangri-La Dialogue follows a series of military drills by China around Taiwan and Beijing’s warnings of war over the US-backed island after the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing labels a “dangerous separatist.” Taiwan remains a significant point of contention, with Beijing considering it part of its territory.
China is also displeased with Washington’s growing defence ties in the Asia-Pacific, particularly with the Philippines, and the regular deployment of US warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Beijing views these actions as part of a longstanding US effort to contain its influence.
President Joe Biden’s administration and China have been working to ease tensions, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting Beijing and Shanghai last month. A major focus has been the resumption of military-to-military dialogue, which China halted in 2022 after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
Tensions were further exacerbated in 2023 by incidents such as the downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over US airspace, a meeting between Taiwan’s then-president Tsai Ing-wen and Pelosi’s successor Kevin McCarthy, and US military aid to Taipei.
Despite these tensions, the two sides agreed to restart high-level military talks following a summit between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Biden in November last year. This includes a communication channel between the US Indo-Pacific Command chief and Chinese commanders overseeing operations near Taiwan, Japan, and the South China Sea.
Austin has warned that the absence of open lines of communication between US and Chinese forces could lead to accidents that spiral out of control. The meeting between Austin and Dong, following a phone call in April, offers hope for further military discussions to ease tensions.
Both defence chiefs are scheduled to give speeches at the Shangri-La Dialogue, addressing various points of contention. The US, concerned about China’s rapid military advancements, has been bolstering its alliances in the region to counter China’s assertiveness over Taiwan and in the South China Sea.
In a post on X, Austin emphasized his commitment to working with “like-minded Indo-Pacific partners to promote our shared vision for a free and open region.” Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who seeks stronger defence ties with the US to counter Chinese actions in regional waters, delivered the keynote speech at the forum.
