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All the clashes between the US and China on security

2 years ago babelfish

All the clashes between the US and China on security

What did the defense ministers of the United States and China say during the Shangri-La Dialogue. Marco Orioles's article

China, China and more China. This could only be the key topic of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's most important security forum held in Singapore between Friday and Sunday for the first time after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Defense ministers compared

The topic under discussion could only be that also because the two most illustrious guests of the event were the Defense Ministers of China and the USA, Wei Fenghe and Lloyd J. Austin III.

The number 1 of the Pentagon opened the dance on Saturday, who gave a very long speech , aimed above all at emphasizing the importance of cooperation and multilateralism in a region such as the Indo-Pacific in which the push is increasingly pressing hegemonic of Beijing.

The Indo-Pacific at the heart of the US Grand Strategy

"Today the Indo-Pacific is at the heart of the Great American strategy", Austin strongly emphasized, recalling the various ways in which the US is engaged in the region.

Rejecting traditional Chinese propaganda arguments, Biden's minister wanted to use crystalline words: “Let me be clear. We do not seek confrontation and conflict. And we are not looking for a new cold war, an Asian NATO or a region divided into hostile blocs ”.

The accusations against China

Austin therefore pointed out that “our policy has not changed. But unfortunately – he added – this does not seem true as far as the People's Republic of China is concerned ”.

"The Indo-Pacific countries – the Secretary clearly stated, listing the long series of crimes attributed to the counterpart – should not deal with political intimidation, economic coercion or harassment by maritime militias".

Clarifications on Taiwan

But the most important part of Austin's speech was undoubtedly the one dedicated to Taiwan. It is worth mentioning here that not even a month ago, while on a visit to Japan, President Biden had made statements that seemed to herald a change of pace from the traditional policy of strategic ambiguity towards Taiwan. According to the head of the White House, in fact, the US "would be militarily involved" in the event of an invasion.

Aware of the disruptive nature of his President's claims, but also of the partial rectification he was forced to immediately after the White House, Austin reassured those present that "We remain firmly committed to our ancient one-China policy" also specifying that "We do not support Taiwan's independence".

No to changes in the status quo

"We categorically oppose", however, "any unilateral change of the status quo from whatever side it comes".

“We are witnesses” – Austin specified expressing all the concern not only of the United States – “of a constant increase in the provocative and destabilizing military activity close to Taiwan. And that includes Chinese army planes that have flown near Taiwan in record numbers and almost on a daily basis in recent months. "

Washington's commitments

Faced with the growing and threatening Chinese military activity near the rebel island, the Secretary then clarified what America's final position is: "We will continue to fulfill our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act. This includes assisting Taiwan in maintaining a adequate capacity for self-defense. And it means maintaining our own ability to resist any use of force or other forms of coercion that could jeopardize the security of the social and economic system of the people of Taiwan ”.

Wei's reply

Wei's reply came in the next morning's session in the form of a lashing, ultimative speech.

Reacting to Austin's reassuring words, the minister thundered: "No one and no country should impose its will on others, or impose itself on others under the guise of multilateralism."

The Indo-Pacific strategy illustrated by Austin the day before “represents for us the attempt to build a small exclusive group in the name of a free and open Indo-Pacific, to seize the countries of our region and to target a specific country. It is a strategy to create conflict ”.

We do not bully but no one does it with us

“China – Wei stated, flatly denying the words of his counterpart – will never seek hegemony or engage in military expansion or an arms race. We do not override others but we will not allow others to override us ”.

“If you want to cooperate – he added ominously – we will have to promote mutual benefits and win – win results. Otherwise, if you want a confrontation, we will fight to the end ".

Inexorable reunification even by force

But it is on the issue of Taiwan that Wei's already hot tones became belligerent: "Taiwan – the minister pointed out – is first and foremost the Taiwan of China", which "would not hesitate" for a single moment to crush any attempt on the part of the island to "secedere".

"Let it be clear," he added. “If anyone dared to detach Taiwan from China we would not hesitate to fight. We will fight at all costs and we will fight until the last result ”.

"China – was Wei's conclusion – will definitely complete its reunification … It is a historical trend that no one, no force can stop".

A bilateral relaxant

Fortunately for the world, it wasn't just a showdown between the two superpowers in Singapore.

Austin and Wei in fact agreed to a bilateral meeting , which lasted longer than expected, during which, in addition to the topics already covered by the two speeches, there was also a conversation on ordinary administration.

The photo of the two delegations sitting at a table, released on the Austin Twitter profile, is undoubtedly the most important legacy of the Shangri-La Dialogue 2022 edition. that there is still some opening for negotiated and shared solutions.

This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/stati-uniti-cina-dialogo-shangri-la/ on Mon, 13 Jun 2022 07:43:10 +0000.