Senior military officials from the United States and China used a conference in Singapore to push competing visions of Asia’s future security: a U.S.-led safety net of well-armed partnerships versus a region where China is the center of a new international order.
On Sunday, the Chinese defense minister, General Li Shangfu, methodically laid out criticisms of the United States and presented Beijing as a contrast in leadership, increasingly confident in using its political, economic and military power to keep Asia stable.
“Certain countries willfully interfered in other countries’ internal matters and regional affairs, frequently resort to unilateral sanctions and armed coercion,” General Li said in an unmistakable reference to the United States and its allies.
They “create chaos in a region and then walk away, leaving a mess behind,” he said.
“We never want to let this be replicated in the Asia-Pacific.”The Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore where Mr. Austin and General Li spoke is one of the few regular forums where Beijing and Washington try to publicly win over Asian policymakers and publics.
Persons:
Lloyd J, Austin III, —, General Li Shangfu, General Li, ”, “, Austin
Organizations:
U.S . Defense, Mr
Locations:
United States, China, Singapore, U.S, Ukraine, Asia, Beijing, Washington, Britain, Germany, Canada, American