Chinese military officials were scathing of a speech made by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in which he said Washington was deeply concerned by China\u2019s unwillingness to engage in crisis management, warning that talks are key to avoiding conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at Asia\u2019s top security summit on Saturday, Austin said that open lines of communication between US and Chinese defence and military leaders were essential to avoid conflict and bolster stability in the Asia Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am deeply concerned that the PRC [People\u2019s Republic of China] has been unwilling to engage more seriously on better mechanisms for crisis management between our two militaries,\u201d Austin told the meeting in Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe more that we talk, the more that we can avoid the misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Austin made specific mention of Chinese planes making<\/a> \u201crisky intercepts of US and allied aircraft flying lawfully in international airspace\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe won\u2019t be deterred by dangerous operational behaviour at sea or in international airspace,\u201d he wrote in a series of tweets summarising his speech to the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOpen lines of communication with the People\u2019s Republic of China are essential \u2013 especially between our defense and military leaders,\u201d he said in another tweet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor responsible defense leaders, the right time to talk is any time, the right time to talk is every time, and the right time to talk is now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDialogue is not a reward. It is a necessity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Chinese delegation was swift to respond to Austin\u2019s speech, with Senior Colonel Tan Hefei, spokesperson for China\u2019s defence ministry, saying that the Pentagon chief \u201cmade several false accusations\u201d in his remarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another Chinese delegation member, Senior Colonel Zhao Xiaozhuo, said Washington should not tell China what to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat we do in the Chinese military is based on maintaining the core interests of China\u2019s security, which is fundamental,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n China\u2019s Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng took particular issue with Austin\u2019s references to Taiwan, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe US\u2019s comments on Taiwan ignore the facts, distort the truth and are completely wrong,\u201d Jing said on the sidelines of the summit, according to the SCMP. \u201cFirst, there\u2019s only one China in the world, and Taiwan is a sacred and inalienable part of Chinese territory,\u201d Jing said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJing accused the US of hollowing out the one-China principle \u2026 by strengthening exchanges between US and Taiwanese officials, condoning Taiwanese separatist activities and selling more and more capable weapons to Taiwan,\u201d the SCMP reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Chinese PLA Army stands fully prepared and ready to firmly defend China\u2019s sovereignty, reunification and territorial integrity at any time,\u201d Jing said, according to the SCMP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Relations between Beijing and Washington are at their lowest point in decades with both China and the US deeply divided over everything from the sovereignty of Taiwan<\/a> to maritime disputes in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Austin also pointed to Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in his speech, saying it was an example of \u201chow dangerous our world would become if big countries could just invade their peaceful neighbours with impunity\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said the US was \u201cdeeply committed\u201d to preserving the status quo in Taiwan and opposes unilateral changes from either side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cConflict is neither imminent nor inevitable. Deterrence is strong today and it\u2019s our job to keep it that way,\u201d Austin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo be clear, we do not seek conflict or confrontation,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we will not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n US military officials have previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on his armed forces to develop the capabilities for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that he\u2019s made a decision to do that,\u201d Austin said in response to a question about Xi\u2019s plans for Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n