Despite their clash over Taiwan, both sides stressed the importance of maintaining military-to-military communication during Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s first face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart since November 2022.
During a 75-minute meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun, Austin expressed concern about recent Chinese military activity near Taiwan, particularly following the island’s presidential election and the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te. Dong cautioned against U.S. interference in China’s affairs with Taiwan, labeling Taiwan’s president a “separatist.” Despite tensions, both sides stressed the importance of maintaining open military-to-military ties.
Discussions also covered the South China Sea disputes, as well as conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to address the legal and geopolitical stance of the Philippines on the South China Sea, emphasizing its significance to global trade. China’s expansive claims over the South China Sea, disputed by several other nations, were challenged by a 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated that peace and stability around the island would improve if China ceased its military drills and provocations. Recent years have seen a rise in military exercises in the region, with China’s drills, while increasing, still trailing behind those of the U.S. in scale and complexity, according to a report by the International Institute of Strategic Studies.
The ongoing Shangri-La Dialogue, convened annually in Singapore by IISS, brings together military and political leaders to address security concerns.