Haley Britzky and Brad Lendon, CNN
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A war over Taiwan would be \u201cdevastating\u201d and affect the global economy \u201cin ways we cannot imagine,\u201d US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has warned, as he underlined US support for the island democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cConflict is neither imminent nor inevitable. Deterrence is strong today \u2013 and it\u2019s our job to keep it that way,\u201d Austin said in remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit on Saturday, which is being attended by representatives from dozens of countries including China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The security of commercial shipping lanes and global supply chains depends on it. And so does freedom of navigation worldwide. Make no mistake: conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a question and answer session after his speech, Austin added: \u201cConflict in the Taiwan Strait would affect the global economy in ways we cannot imagine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China\u2019s ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and its increasingly frequent military exercises near to and around the island have raised concerns about how far it will go to realize that claim. China\u2019s leader Xi Jinping has pointedly not ruled out the use of force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shortly after Austin spoke on Saturday, Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng told China\u2019s state broadcaster CCTV that the US defense chief\u2019s comments on Taiwan were \u201ccompletely wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jing accused Washington of trying to \u201cconsolidate hegemony and provoke confrontation,\u201d adding that US actions were damaging regional peace and stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Late Saturday afternoon, a US Navy spokesperson said US and Canadian warships were sailing through the Taiwan Strait while the discussions were going on in Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The transit by the destroyer USS Chung-Hoon and frigate HIMCS Montreal was routine and occurred \u201cthrough waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law,\u201d US Navy spokesperson Lt. Kristina Wiedemann said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCooperation like this represents the centerpiece of our approach to a secure and prosperous region where aircraft and ships of all nations may fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Austin\u2019s comments earlier came at a tense time for relations between the US and China, as China recently rejected an offer from Austin to meet at the summit in Singapore, citing US sanctions on Chinese officials and companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Austin addressed the lack of communication in his speech on Saturday, saying that he is \u201cdeeply concerned\u201d that the People\u2019s Republic of China \u201chas been unwilling to engage more seriously on better mechanisms for crisis management.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor responsible leaders, the right time to talk is anytime. The right time to talk is every time. And the right time to talk is now,\u201d Austin said. \u201cDialogue is not a reward. It is a necessity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Austin noted that he and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu greeted each other with a smile at a banquet Friday night, but called on Beijing to do more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for serious engagement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout his speech, Austin listed off ways that the US is partnering with allies in the region, saying that those partnerships are bringing the region closer and making it \u201cmore stable and resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Austin reaffirmed that the US will \u201ccontinue to stand by our allies and partners as they uphold their rights,\u201d and maintain \u201cour vigorous, responsible presence across the Indo-Pacific.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n