SINGAPORE. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that war with China is neither imminent nor unavoidable during a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday. Despite escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, Austin highlighted the importance of renewed dialogue to avoid “miscalculations and misunderstandings.”
Austin’s remarks followed his first in-person meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun since 2022, when military contacts were severed after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The hour-long meeting took place on the sidelines of the forum, focusing on the need to maintain open communication channels.
“While we didn’t reach any new agreements, the most important thing is that we’re talking,” Austin said. “As long as we’re talking, we’re able to identify issues that are troublesome and ensure there are guardrails to prevent misperceptions and miscalculations.”
The Shangri-La Dialogue also saw participation from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who stressed the potential consequences of Chinese confrontations with Filipino vessels in the South China Sea. Marcos stated that such actions could be close to “an act of war,” expecting treaty partners, including the U.S., to uphold similar standards.
Austin reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to the Philippines, calling their mutual defense treaty “ironclad.” However, he avoided speculating on hypothetical scenarios involving Filipino casualties in confrontations with China, emphasizing that the U.S. aims to prevent such incidents from spiraling out of control.
Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng responded by accusing the U.S. of creating division through its Indo-Pacific strategy, which he said serves “selfish geopolitical interests.”
Additionally, Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto offered peacekeeping troops for Gaza to support a ceasefire, endorsing U.S. President Joe Biden’s three-phase ceasefire proposal for the region.
Austin’s comments come amid increased Chinese military activities, including “punishment” drills around Taiwan and confrontations in the South China Sea. Australia and Japan also expressed concerns about China’s assertiveness in the region, citing incidents involving Chinese military actions against their vessels and aircraft.
Austin dismissed Chinese claims that the U.S. is forming an Asian version of NATO. He clarified that the U.S. is collaborating with “like-minded countries with similar values” and reiterated that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a decision made by President Vladimir Putin.
“War or a fight with China is neither imminent nor unavoidable,” Austin asserted. “Leaders of great power nations need to continue to work together to reduce the opportunities for miscalculation and misunderstandings.”
The dialogue also featured comments from Indonesian academic Dewi Fortuna Anwar, who voiced concerns about the region’s stability. She questioned whether the U.S. would allow China’s assertive posture to grow uncontested if the main emphasis was on dialogue.
Austin assured that the U.S. would continue to support the rights of nations in the region and ensure access to their exclusive economic zones. “Every conversation is not going to be a happy conversation, but it is important that we continue to talk to each other. And it is important that we continue to support our allies and partners on their interests as well,” he concluded.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
