SINGAPORE, June 1 – US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to the Indo-Pacific region despite ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.
Speaking at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Austin emphasised that President Joe Biden’s administration has prioritised the region since day one, recognising it as central to US strategy.
“We are all in. And we’re not going anywhere. Despite these historic clashes in Europe and the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific has remained our priority theatre of operation,” he said.
The Secretary of Defence, answering questions from a delegate, said he believed the US momentum in the Indo-Pacific region will continue and “pick up speed”, based on common vision and values, regardless of the results of the US presidential elections.
“While some critics and propagandists ‘will continue to reject the rule of law and try to impose their will through coercion and aggression, the Indo-Pacific’s new convergence points towards a better future for all of our countries,” he said.
Austin emphasised that the security of the United States is inherently linked to the security of Asia. He underscored the long-standing US presence in the region and its ongoing investments to fulfil commitments to allies and partners.
Regarding China, Austin clarified that the US does not seek a contentious relationship with Beijing. He expressed openness to dialogue but also stressed the importance of working with allies and countries in the region, such as the Philippines, to address their concerns and ensure their rights are protected.
“We can address those issues in those channels and as you would imagine, Minister Dong, and I had the ability to address some of those issues yesterday (Friday). I look forward to doing that going forward,” he said.
Austin and China’s Minister of National Defence Dong Jun on Friday held a first face-to-face talk on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, the first between the US and Chinese defence ministers since 2022.
Touching on his conversation with Dong, Austin said he assured his counterpart that his line of communication is always open.
“It’s that communication that I think that will help to keep things in the right place and and help us move things towards a greater stability and security in the region,” he added.
Austin said there is no substitute for direct military-to-military talks between senior leaders, nor for open lines of communication to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations.
