SINGAPORE: The US and Chinese defence chiefs held rare direct talks in Singapore on Friday (May 31), offering hopes for more military dialogue that could help prevent disputes over Taiwan and other flashpoint issues from spinning out of control.
The meeting between the United States’ Lloyd Austin and China’s Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue was the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two defence chiefs in 18 months.
Dong and Austin met for more than an hour at the luxury hotel hosting the security forum. Both men left the meeting room separately shortly after 2pm.
A Chinese defence spokesperson told reporters that the talks were “positive, practical and constructive”.
Both leaders discussed Taiwan, the war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the conflict in Gaza.
Austin expressed concern about Chinese military activity near Taiwan, including after the island’s presidential election and the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te this month, US Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement.
“The secretary expressed concern about recent provocative PLA activity around the Taiwan Strait, and he reiterated that the PRC should not use Taiwan’s political transition – part of a normal, routine democratic process – as a pretext for coercive measures,” Ryder said after the 75-minute meeting.
He was referring to the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Republic of China.
Dong warned Austin that the US should not interfere in China’s affairs with Taiwan, defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters. Dong said during the meeting that the US’ actions on Taiwan seriously violate the “one China” principle.
The US approach to Taiwan violates commitments made by the United States and sends the wrong signal to “separatist forces” in Taiwan, the spokesperson quoted Dong as saying. Beijing calls Lai a “separatist”.
Both sides, however, emphasised the importance of keeping military-to-military ties open, and a senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the meeting marked an “important step” in opening lines of communication.
The official said Austin was “firm but professional” and also brought up China’s nuclear, space and cyber developments.
Following the meeting, the Pentagon said the US welcomed plans to convene a crisis-communications working group with China by the end of the year.
China’s defence chief also expressed hopes that the US could help with peace in the Middle East.
