At Asia’s top security meeting, the United States and its allies exchanged barbs with China on Saturday. But, the war in Ukraine, and a distant speech by President Volodymyr Zilenskyy, dominated proceedings.
Lloyd Austin, the Defense Secretary, stated earlier to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in which he said that Washington would do its part in managing tensions with China and preventing conflict, even though Beijing was becoming more aggressive in the region.
Zelenskyy spoke via video link to the delegates from Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. He said that his nations needed to support each other to defeat the Russian invasion and to maintain the rules-based order.
He said, “It’s on the battlefields in Ukraine that the future rules and boundaries of this world are being determined along with the limits of the possible.”
He pointed out that Russia blocks ports in the Black Sea Sea and Azov Seas, keeping Ukrainian food exports off the global market.
He stated that if Russia blocks our food exports, we will face an acute and severe crisis in the global food supply and famine in many African and Asian countries.
The United States and China, who have been at odds in recent months over everything, from Taiwan and China’s human rights record to its military activities in the South China Sea were once again at odds.
Austin and Wei Fenghe, the Chinese Defence Minister, met Friday. They reiterated their desire to improve their relationship. However there was no indication of any progress in resolving disagreements.
Austin stated that the United States will continue to stand with its allies, Taiwan included.
He said, “This is especially important because the PRC (People’s Republic of China), adopts a coercive approach to its territorial claims.”
China claims Taiwan is its self-rule and has pledged to take it by force, if necessary.
Austin stated that there has been an alarming rise in unprofessional and unsafe encounters between Chinese aircraft and vessels and those from other countries.
Taiwan has been complaining for years about repeated Chinese air force missions in its air defense identification zone. Austin stated that these incursions have increased in recent months.
Lieutenant General Zhang Zhenzhong (a top Chinese military officer) called Austin’s speech “confrontation”.
The United States wants to create a small circle within the Asia-Pacific region, by inviting some countries to incite on other countries. “What should we call it other than confrontation?” Zhang, vice-chief of the joint staff division of China’s Central Military Commission told reporters.
Washington stated earlier this year that China seemed poised to support Russia in its war on Ukraine.
However, U.S. officials stated that while they are still concerned about China’s support of Russia over the long-term, they have not seen any change in their concerns about China’s military and economic support.
Japan’s defence minister, who is one of Washington’s closest allies in Asia told the meeting that Russia and China had increased security concerns in the region.
Nobuo Kishi stated that joint military operations between two powerful military powers would undoubtedly raise concern among other nations. Richard Marles, Australia’s Defence Minister, said that it was reasonable to expect China not to support an invasion of a sovereign nation in violation of the U.N Charter.
