Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed that the Indo-Pacific region remained a priority for Washington.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on Jun 1, 2024. SINGAPORE: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed on Saturday that the Indo-Pacific region remained a"priority" for Washington, saying the United States was secure"only if Asia is".
The United States is seeking to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly with the Philippines, as it seeks to counter China's growing military might and influence.CNA Explains: The story behind the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore But in his speech on Saturday, Austin appeared to take shots at China, saying there was a"new era of security in the Indo-Pacific" that was not"about imposing one country's will" or"bullying or coercion".
Austin said the harassment faced by the Philippines in the South China Sea was dangerous and reiterated that the US mutual defence treaty with Manila was ironclad. He added that the aim was to ensure that tensions between Beijing and Manila do not spiral out of control. When asked by a Chinese delegate, Senior Colonel Cao Yanzhong, if the US is trying to build a NATO-like alliance in Asia, Austin said he disagreed with the view that the Ukraine crisis was caused by NATO’s expansion.
"As to whether or not we are trying to create a NATO in the Indo-Pacific, I would tell you that what we’re doing is ... like-minded countries with similar values and a common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific are working together to achieve that vision.
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