“The PRC’s moves threaten to undermine security, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” said Austin, using the acronym to refer to the country officially known as the Republic of China. People’s Republic of China.
Taiwan played a key role in Austin’s speech, just as it was during the bilateral meeting between Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on Friday night.
During that meeting, both sides accused the other of trying to change the decades-old status quo of the self-governing island of Taiwan.
Austin on Saturday denied any such action from Washington.
But Austin says China is acting differently.
“We have seen a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activities near Taiwan. That includes PLA planes flying near Taiwan in record numbers in recent months. – and almost daily,” he said, referring to flights by Chinese fighter jets into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone.
The following Saturday, China called Austin’s speech a “confrontation.”
“There are many baseless accusations against China, and we express our dissatisfaction and firmly oppose these false accusations,” said Lieutenant General Zhang Zhenzhong, deputy chief of staff of the Central Military Commission of China. , told reporters.
Zhang accused the US of not keeping its promise not to support “Taiwan independence”, saying that the US was “obviously inconsistent in its words and deeds.”
On Friday, China accused Washington of threatening the island’s status quo with things like selling weapons, which Beijing said “severely undermined China’s sovereignty and security interests.”
During his meeting with Austin, Wei reiterated China’s longstanding position that it is ready to go to war if Taiwan declares independence from the mainland.
Wu Qian, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense said at a press conference after the meeting.
Austin said Saturday that the United States does not want war in the region.
“We are not looking for confrontation or conflict. And we are not looking for a new Cold War, an Asian NATO or a region divided into hostile blocs,” he said.
But Austin said Washington is undeterred in backing allies and partners.
And his accusations against China on Saturday extended beyond Taiwan.
“In the East China Sea, China’s expanding fishing fleet is raising tensions with its neighbors. In the South China Sea, (China) is using outposts on artificial islands to its fullest extent. state-of-the-art weapons to advance its illegal maritime claims,” Austin said.
“We are seeing (Chinese) ships hijacking regional regulations, operating illegally in the territorial waters of other Indo-Pacific nations. And further west, We see Beijing continuing to strengthen its position along the border it shares with India.”
‘Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow’
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine is what happens when the oppressors trample on the rules that protect us all,” he said. “That’s what happens when the great powers decide that their imperial needs are more important than the rights of their peaceful neighbours. And it’s a preview of a chaotic and chaotic world that can could happen that none of us want to live in.”
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida brought up the discussion Friday night during a keynote speech at Shangri-La.
“Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow,” Kishida said, adding that to ensure security, Tokyo will significantly increase its defense budget.
“We will not rule out any options, including the so-called ‘counterattack’, and will consider realistically what is necessary to protect people’s lives and livelihoods,” he said.
Austin on Saturday noted the larger role Japan and other allies are playing in US Pacific policies, listing a series of joint military exercises they have participated in.
“We are also building closer relationships with other partners,” says Austin. “I think especially of India, the world’s largest democracy. We believe that its growing military capabilities and technological prowess can be the driving force of stability in the region.”
That would include permanently stationing a Coast Guard cutter in the area for the first time, he said.
Zhang, the Chinese military official, on Saturday said the US strategy in the Indo-Pacific is to “maintain its hegemony.”
Zhang said: “The United States is trying to form a small circle in the Asia-Pacific region by wriggling in some countries to agitate against some other countries, while accusing the United States of is trying to “push the Indo-Pacific region into the trap of geopolitical games and confrontation in the camp. “
Austin said earlier that the Biden administration was prepared to be the leader and guarantor of the free and open Indo-Pacific it so loved.
Austin said: “Great power carries great responsibilities. “And so we will do our part to manage these tensions responsibly, prevent conflict, and pursue peace and prosperity.”
CNN’s Yong Xiong in Seoul contributed to this report.
