“Conflict would be devastating”: Austin warns China against attack on Taiwan

“Conflict would be devastating”
Austin warns China against attack on Taiwan

Shortly before the start of the Asian security conference Shangri-La Dialogue, China’s new defense minister is threatening to conquer Taiwan. Alarm bells went off in Washington. US Secretary of Defense Austin warns Beijing against a military escalation and criticizes communication with the People’s Republic.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has warned China against military action against Taiwan. “A cross-strait conflict would be devastating,” Austin said at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an Asian security conference in Singapore. Such an escalation would affect the global economy “in ways we cannot imagine,” Austin warned.

China regards Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic. The island republic, which has 23 million inhabitants, has had an independent government for more than seven decades. Shortly before the security conference in Singapore, China’s new Defense Minister Li Shangfu again threatened to conquer Taiwan. The United States rejected a “unilateral change in the status quo,” emphasized Austin. From his point of view, a conflict is “neither imminent nor inevitable”. The US is determined to preserve peace and security in the Taiwan Strait, which is so important for global shipping.

The Pentagon chief expressed concern over the lack of communication between the two great powers China and the US, whose relations have hit rock bottom. Open communication links are particularly important for the military and defense politicians, Austin said. “The right time for talks is now.”

Referring to a brief encounter the night before with Li Shangfu, Austin said, “A hearty handshake over dinner is no substitute for a factual argument.” The Chinese side had already rejected his request for talks with the general in Singapore before the conference.

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