SINGAPORE: The Australian prime minister urged both nations to reopen” reliable and open channels of communication” as the US and Chinese defense leaders spoke briefly on Friday( June 2 ).
Following Beijing’s rejection of an invitation to a conventional meeting, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Taiwanese equivalent Li Shangfu spoke briefly at the Pentagon-organized security conference in Singapore.
Although Austin and other US authorities have been working to strengthen relationships and partnerships in Asia to counter China, there have also been hints that the two countries are attempting to mend their rift.
Li had been invited by the US to join Austin at the city-state’s Shangri-La Dialogue safety forum, but China declined.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue’s opening supper tonight in Singapore, Austin and Li” spoke quickly.” Although they shook hands, the two officials did not engage in a meaningful conversation, according to Brigadier General Pat Ryder of the Pentagon.
The Pentagon, according to Ryder,” believes in maintaining open lines of communication and may continue to seek important military-to-military discussions at several levels to properly manage the relationship.”
The Pentagon has stated that Li’s sanction by the US government for purchasing Russian weapons does not stop Austin from doing business with him on established business.
Speaking was beneficial for the two, according to a senior US defense standard, but” a hand at dinner is no replacement for sitting down and engaging in meaningful conversation.”
When Secretary Austin speaks at the Dialogue’s second plenary session tomorrow, he will have more to say about why this matters.” The next time they see each other, it should be for critical and meaningful speech.”