U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also accused China of 'provocative and destabilizing military activity' at a conference in Singapore.
The U.S., like most other nations, doesn't formally recognize democratic Taiwan as an independent country. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, but successive U.S. administrations have provided key support to the island, including supplying arms.
Speaking in Singapore on Saturday, Secretary Austin accused China of a"steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan." "That includes PLA [People's Liberation Army] aircraft flying near Taiwan in record numbers in recent months - and on a nearly daily basis," Austin said. However, he made clear the U.S. does"not support Taiwan independence."Earlier in his speech, Austin offered other criticisms of China's recent actions, referring to country as the PRC .
"We're seeing PRC vessels plunder the region's provisions, operating illegally within the territorial waters of other Indo-Pacific countries. And further to the west, we see Beijing continue to harden its position along the border that it shares with India," Austin went on."We do not seek confrontation or conflict. And we do not seek a new Cold War, an AsianLt. Gen.
"There were many unfounded accusations against China, and we expressed our strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to these false accusations," he said, accusing the U.S. of not keeping its promise not to support independence for Taiwan.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US defense chief says China muscling neighbors, plundering resources in PacificUS Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called out China on Saturday for a series of coercive, aggressive and dangerous actions that threaten stability around Asia and vowed the United States would stand by partners to resist any pressure.
Read more »
‘Stop Smearing' China: Chinese Defense Minister Accuses U.S. of Creating ‘Conflict and Confrontation'China’s defense minister has accused the U.S. of “smearing” Beijing and says Washington is trying to “hijack” countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Read more »
China calls COVID ‘lab leak’ theory a lie after WHO reportChina on Friday attacked the theory that the coronavirus pandemic may have originated as a leak from a Chinese laboratory as a politically motivated lie, after the World Health Organization recommended in its strongest terms yet that a deeper probe is needed into whether a lab accident may be to blame.
Read more »
China complains over US arms sales to TaiwanChina’s defense minister has complained to his American counterpart about the latest U.S. arms package for Taiwan and warned of a possible conflict over the self—governing island that China claims as its own territory
Read more »