The Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has promised that the United States military will maintain its presence in the skies and seas around China, where China has become increasingly aggressive. The annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, which has traditionally served as a venue for military officials from both countries, has this year seen no bilateral discussions, as the Chinese defense minister General Li Shangfu has declined to meet with Austin. In explaining the United States’ presence in the region, the Defense Secretary emphasised the need to justify activities by the US and its allies and promote stronger alliances with Washington. He also pledged to keep supporting Taiwan. These are all issues that concern Beijing, particularly in relation to Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.
Despite China’s decision not to attend the dialogue, concerns arising from a recent incident in the South China Sea have shaped discussion. At the end of May, a Chinese J-16 fighter flew dangerously close to a US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance plane. President Biden’s national security adviser has held talks with a senior Chinese diplomat, and China’s trade minister recently visited the US. However, China and the US remain at fundamental odds over issues such as Taiwan, technological rivalry, US alliance-building in Asia and China’s military buildup.
At the Singapore forum, Austin had planned to talk to his Chinese counterpart about the potential risks from risky and unprofessional conduct, in addition to China’s increasing military pressure on Taiwan, and other significant regional and global security issues. While some argue that talks could assist in reducing such risks, others believe that Beijing may not see value in risk-reduction measures. Rather, it appears that the Chinese aim to get America’s attention and believe that they will be more cautious if they maintain some level of risk.
