Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin met at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. This meeting, reported by Reuters and based on Chinese state media, marks their first discussion since 2022. The dialogue is expected to cover a number of sensitive topics, including the situation in Taiwan and the South China Sea, BTA reports.
The Shangri-La Dialogue, a major forum that began today, is not just a meeting place for these high-ranking officials. It also includes a speech by the Philippine president, who is expected to delve into the complex territorial disputes in the South China Sea. This region has long been a hotbed of dispute, with multiple countries staking claims. China has expressed a positive outlook for these high-level military talks with the United States.
According to Wu Qian, a spokesman for China's Ministry of Defense, such strategic dialogues are crucial to maintaining stable relations between the two nations' militaries. Beijing is reportedly open to and supportive of this approach to diplomacy.
The forum will include speeches by both defense ministers, with Lloyd Austin taking the stage on Saturday, followed by Dong Jun on Sunday. These addresses are eagerly awaited as they are expected to shed light on the future of US-China military relations and the broader geopolitical landscape in the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting in Singapore represents a step towards dialogue at a time of heightened tensions, with the world closely watching how these discussions could affect peace and stability in the region.