SINGAPORE (AP) — Government leaders, defense officials and diplomats from around the world are gathering in Singapore this weekend for one of Asia’s largest security forums, amid rising tensions and competition for influence between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Beijing has been rapidly expanding its navy in recent years. It claims sovereignty over the entire South China Sea.This has led to increased direct conflict with other countries in the region, especially Philippines and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Military Exercises In this region Allies emphasize “free and open Indo-Pacific” The initiative is intended to emphasize freedom of navigation in disputed waters, including the Taiwan Strait. China also claims Taiwan, a self-governing democratic island, and says it will not rule out using force to seize it.
The administration of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been taking steps since territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea escalated last year. Building a new security alliance Cooperating with Asian and Western countries, US troops stationed at base in the Philippines Based on a 2014 defense agreement.
President Marcos will open this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, with a keynote address on Friday.
President Marcos has already expressed concern this week about a new law issued by China that gives the Chinese coast guard the power to seize foreign vessels that “illegally enter China’s territorial waters” and detain foreign crew members for up to 60 days. The law also makes new reference to a 2021 legislation that allows the Chinese coast guard to fire on foreign vessels if necessary.
Eugene Tan, a professor of international law at Singapore Management University, said Philippine vessels were now frequently clashing with Chinese vessels and he was concerned that low-level conflicts could lead to escalation.
“I don’t think these countries are really going to war, but These skirmishes “Sometimes, if there is a miscalculation, things can escalate very quickly and escalate into the use of force,” he said.
“And I think the last thing countries in the region need is to be on the brink of a regional conflict, especially as they focus on rebuilding after the pandemic.”
This year’s conference One week since China conducted large-scale military exercises around TaiwanTaiwan imposed a mock blockade on the island following the election of a new government that does not accept Beijing’s claim that the island is part of China.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary.
The United States, like many other countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is required by its laws to provide it with the means to defend itself. It has called China’s military exercises “reckless.”
Bilateral contacts between the U.S. and Chinese militaries broke down in 2022 after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, infuriating Beijing.
Relations have been gradually improving in recent months, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, who are both attending the Shangri-La Dialogue, were due to meet on Friday before the forum began.
The two have spoken on the phone before, but this will be their first face-to-face meeting since in-person talks collapsed.
Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Marty Miners said the two sides would discuss establishing direct communication channels between military commanders responsible for the region around Taiwan and elsewhere.
“We are committed to carrying out the president’s directive to enhance military-to-military communication,” he said.
“The Ministry of Defense continues to actively engage with its Chinese counterparts on future defense and military engagement at various levels.”
Tan said he did not expect any major breakthroughs from the talks, but that direct contact between the two sides was important to “ease” tensions between the two countries.
“It’s probably too much to expect any concrete progress from the Shangri-La Dialogue,” he said. “The Shangri-La Dialogue actually offers an opportunity to take very incremental steps toward building trust and confidence.”
Austin is scheduled to address the forum on Saturday morning, while Don will speak on the final day, Sunday.
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Associated Press writer Shawardin Zain in Singapore and Tara Kopp in Washington contributed to this report.
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