The Defense Secretary of the United States, Llyod Austin, addressed China’s coercive and aggressive actions in a keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defense conference.
Austin vows that the United States will stand by its partners to resist the pressures of China. In his keynote speech, he said, “Indo-Pacific countries shouldn’t face political intimidation, economic coercion or harassment by maritime militias.” He further said that China’s” moves threaten to undermine security, and stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”
Austin noted numerous areas where China has attempted to pressure its neighbors, but Taiwan has a significant role in Austin’s speech.
China and Taiwan have poor relations because Beijing insists that the Island of Taiwan belongs to China and will be reclaimed at some point by force if needed. The two were divided during a civil war in the 1940s. Presently, Taiwan has its own constitution and democratically elected leaders. Only a few countries recognize Taiwan, while the majority recognize the Chinese government. The United States has a law that requires it to provide Taiwan with the necessary means to defend itself but does not have official ties with the island.
Austin and the Chinese Minister of Defense Wei Fenghe held a bilateral meeting on the 10th of June. Both sides have accused each other of trying to change the status quo over Taiwan. Austin has denied this allegation, as he states, “we’re determined to uphold the status quo that has served the region so well for so long.” Under the One China policy, the United States recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China. Austin states that under this policy, the United States acknowledges China’s position that Taiwan is part of China but that it has never officially recognized Beijing’s claim to the Island of Taiwan.
“We’ve witnessed a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan. That includes PLA aircraft flying near Taiwan in record numbers in recent months – and on a near-daily basis,” Austin states. He is referring to Chinese warplanes flying into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone and argues this is China attempting to change the status quo.
On the other side, China has accused the United States of changing the status quo over Taiwan with arms sales, which “seriously undermined China’s sovereignty and security interests,” says Lieutenant General Zhang Zhenzhong, the deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of China’s Central Military Commission. He has accused the United States of not standing by its promise to not support Taiwan’s independence.
Within his speech, Austin has used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an example of what happens when nations do not abide by international laws. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all. It’s what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors. And it’s a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.” Austin is making the comparison that China is another big power seeking to satisfy its “imperial appetite” at the expense of Taiwan.
Fumio Kishida, the Japanese Prime Minister, said in his keynote speech at Shangri-La, “Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow.” China’s aggressive moves toward Taiwan will have further implications as tensions rise and nations become divided. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has rocked the global stage. A Chinese invasion of Taiwan will further devastate the global community.
