US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin once again focused on the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party during the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday (June 1), emphasizing that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the Gaza conflict would not affect US security commitments in the Indo-Pacific region.
Before delivering his speech at this annual security summit, Austin met with his Chinese counterpart, Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, on Friday. The two engaged in a 75-minute conversation, applying pressure on each other on a range of issues including the South China Sea disputes, Taiwan Strait security, and the China-Russia relationship.
With the international situation becoming increasingly volatile, many are concerned that as the US is working to prevent conflicts from spreading, the focus has shifted towards assisting Ukraine and supporting Israel, thereby diverting attention from Washington’s concerns in the Indo-Pacific region.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, the US has provided billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine, with an additional allocation of $61 billion approved by the US Congress last month. The US continues to provide military assistance to Israel, offering $26 billion in additional support to the country in the same legislation, with $8 billion allocated for countering the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific region.
Austin stated in his speech, “Despite the historic conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific region remains our primary theater of operations.” He continued, “Let me be clear: only when Asia is secure, the United States will be secure. This is the reason why the United States has maintained a presence in this region for so long.”
During his address, he criticized the recent military provocations by the Chinese Communist Party against Taiwan.
In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has escalated military threats towards Taiwan and conducted large-scale military exercises following the inauguration of Taiwan’s new President Tsai Ing-wen, claiming that these exercises were a “punitive” measure against “separatist activities.”
Austin stated, “Disputes should be resolved peacefully through dialogue, not through coercion or conflict. Certainly not through so-called punitive measures.”
He also described China’s aggressive actions against the Philippines as “dangerous.”
“The harassment that the Philippines is facing is dangerous — plain and simple,” Austin said. The day before, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr also warned at the annual defense forum that China was engaging in “illegal, coercive, and aggressive” activities against the Philippines.
“President Marcos last night talked convincingly about the rule of law in the South China Sea. He was right,” Austin said. “Every country, big or small, has the right to enjoy its maritime resources and to freely navigate and operate in places permitted by international law.”
The Philippines, a vast archipelagic country with deep historical ties to the United States, would hold a strategic position in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
In his remarks, Austin emphasized the importance of the Indo-Pacific alliances and outlined the actions the US has taken over the past three years to enhance alliances and establish small, security cooperation. He stated that Washington is “firmly committed to” the Indo-Pacific region.
“We are here to stay. We’re not going anywhere,” Austin said.
Austin noted that the United States, along with Indo-Pacific allies such as Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and South Korea, are building “a series of overlapping and complementary initiatives and institutions” to achieve a historic “integration” of its defense interests. Strengthening military cooperation, developing new capabilities, and enhancing mutual security.