Defense chiefs of China, U.S. meet on Taiwan question, South China Sea

Published: June 01,2024

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun (C) walks out after a bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, May 31, 2024. /CFP

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have exchanged views on China-U.S. relations, military-to-military ties, the Taiwan question, the South China Sea issue, the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Dong and Austin held talks on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s annual defense and security forum, in Singapore on Friday, the first in-person meeting between Chinese and U.S. defense chiefs since November 2022.

“It was a positive, pragmatic and constructive strategic communication,” said Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, at a press briefing about the meeting between the two defense chiefs.

The talks took place according to the agreement between China and the U.S., said Wu.

They were aimed at implementing the important common understandings reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, and promoting the sound and stable development of relations between the two militaries, he added.

During the talks with Austin, Dong said the relationship between the two militaries has stabilized,which is hard-won and deserves to be cherished, according to the spokesperson.

The purpose of communication between the two militaries is to enhance understanding, eliminate misunderstandings, accumulate mutual trust and stabilize the relationship, said Dong.

The Chinese defense minister urged the U.S. side not to disregard facts, shift blame, shirk responsibility or attempt to discredit and suppress others.

cgtn.com