China refuses! "Unusual straightforwardness" countries | United States | China

The 20th Shangri La Dialogue, which lasted for three days, came to an end on the afternoon of the 4th. More than 600 military leaders, policy makers, and analysts from 40 countries gathered in Singapore and held over 100 formal closed door meetings.

The Shangri La Dialogue was initiated by the UK Institute for International Strategic Studies in 2002 and is named after its annual presence at the Shangri La Hotel in Singapore. It is currently one of the largest and most standardized security dialogue mechanisms in the Asia Pacific region.

The governor of Chang'an Street noticed that although the topic of the Russia-Ukraine conflict was added this year, the Sino US relationship was still the most focused issue of the "incense club", attracting global attention.

The defense ministers of China and the United States shook hands on the opening night of the meeting, and although they were in the same room more than once, no formal meeting was held, with almost no signs of thawing. The United States, in a dilemma, is still struggling.

The United States has brought about pretense and provocation, but lacks sincerity

Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao said that Singapore's defense minister Huang Yonghong said on the 3rd that when the Chinese and American defense ministers talked with them respectively, they both expressed their hope to restore the original military dialogue mechanism. Previously, there were also reports that Austin personally requested to meet with Li Shangfu at the meeting, but was refused.

According to officials from the US Department of Defense, similar talks in the past were often finalized at the last minute, but this time China's refusal has sent an "unusually blunt message.".

However, the United States not only failed to reflect seriously and immediately lift the "sanctions" launched five years ago against the then Minister of Equipment Development of the Central Military Commission, Li Shangfu, Austin also attempted to shift the responsibility for the current difficulties in bilateral relations to China during the "Incense Conference" speech, complaining that China refused to meet, claiming that this was "regrettable and unfortunate".

Austin doesn't sound like someone who hopes to ease tensions and resolve potential conflicts through dialogue. On the contrary, this is the old trick of the United States: either forcefully portray China as a refusal to cooperate, or force China to acquiesce to being surrounded.

As a result, Chinese warships approached and warned American warships, followed by close range crosscutting, forcing American warships to slow down and change course. The US Indo Pacific Command, however, was the first to report that the Chinese approach was "unsafe".

On the 4th, State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu made a resounding question at the "incense ceremony": "Why did all the issues mentioned earlier occur near China's airspace and territorial waters, rather than near the airspace and territorial waters of other countries?"

"That is to say, our Chinese military aircraft and warships never go to the airspace and waters of other countries to exercise so-called 'navigation hegemony'!" He bluntly said, "Take care of your own people, take care of your own warships, take care of your own aircraft!"

Former Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, also stated in an interview during the "incense ceremony" that "why did they come across the sea? They came to our doorstep?" If we want to resume high-level defense negotiations between China and the United States, the United States should uphold "goodwill and sincerity" and reduce the deployment of military forces near China.

On the one hand, they have no intention of voluntarily lifting sanctions. They have raised the stairs and are unable to come down. They are also trying to "cause trouble" to feed the "Xianghui". On the other hand, they have repeatedly let the wind down, hoping that China will take the initiative to step down despite unfounded accusations. The act of provocation in action, while shouting about crisis management, the contradictory operation cannot conceal the essence of helplessness. Obviously, the United States prefers to put on airs and provoke rather than engage in dialogue.

There is no overlap between the two major directions of both sides

On the Taiwan issue, Austin said in a speech on the 3rd that the United States will oppose any party unilaterally changing the status quo, that the United States is determined to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and will continue to maintain a strong deterrent force, and called on Beijing to engage in military dialogue with the United States.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are the biggest troublemakers in changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, as they use foreign powers to seek independence and external forces use Taiwan to contain China.

He stressed: if anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will not hesitate at all and will not be afraid of any opponent, and will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity no matter what the cost.

On the South China Sea issue, the United States also cannot expect China to follow the pace of the United States.

Austin claimed that the United States is working closely with allies to enhance its power posture in the region.

He said, "We are committed to ensuring that every country can fly, navigate, and operate within the limits permitted by international law. Every country, big or small, must freely engage in legitimate maritime activities. We are also firmly committed to ensuring that our allies and partners have the ability to prevent aggression and increase stability."

In this regard, Li Shangfu stated that with the joint efforts of regional countries, the overall situation in the South China Sea is stable, and exchanges and cooperation are increasingly deepening. Nowadays, tens of thousands of ships from various countries pass through the South China Sea every year, and the total value of goods transported to the world through this route is as high as 3.5 trillion US dollars. I have not heard of any ships being obstructed or threatened in terms of passage or safety. On the contrary, some countries outside the region are exercising navigation hegemony in the South China Sea under the pretext of freedom of navigation, and they want to disrupt the South China Sea for profit. We need to be highly vigilant and resolutely resist it.

Li Shangfu also named "some countries" at the meeting, stating that they would abandon the rule of law and rules if they were used together or not. Imposing "family laws and regulations" on others, even using conventions that one has not participated in to constrain others. The so-called "rule-based international order" never clearly states what rules are and who formulates them.

Although Li Shangfu did not name the "some countries" that adhere to exceptionalism, everyone has a clear idea. The United States has not yet joined the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, but considers itself a "guardian of the law of the sea" and enjoys using the convention to argue. This inevitably raises questions about what qualifications the United States has to use the convention to argue.

China is here to make friends

According to the official website of the Ministry of National Defense, Li Shangfu gave a speech on the topic of "China's New Security Initiative" at the "Fragrance Conference". He emphasized the new security path of "dialogue without confrontation, partnership without alliance, win-win rather than zero sum", advocating for replacing bullying with mutual respect, surpassing jungle laws with fairness and justice, eliminating confrontational conflicts through mutual trust and negotiation, and preventing camp confrontation with openness and inclusiveness.

He pointed out that history has proven that group politics and separatist confrontation will not bring true security, but will only exacerbate tensions and undermine regional stability. What is needed in today's Asia Pacific is an open and inclusive "big cooperation", rather than a "small circle" of cliques.

He emphasized that China is willing to join hands with other countries on the path of modernization and provide new opportunities for world stability and prosperity.

The Chinese side's statement not only demonstrates a firm stance and principles, but also demonstrates a sincere attitude of mutual respect, openness and inclusiveness, and hopes to have deeper exchanges with all parties.

On the 4th, President Jos é Ramos Horta of East Timor called on Europe and the United States not to view China with a narrow perspective at a meeting entitled "New Partnership for Asia Pacific Security". He did not believe that China would do harm to others and not benefit itself.

Orta criticized some countries for viewing China's rise from a "frog in the well" perspective, believing that China is a regional and global threat, but such views are simply unconvincing. He emphasized, "China has global influence and is now a world power. Its interests, wealth, people's well-being, and security are intertwined with all countries around the world. I believe that China will not kill the chicken for the egg."