U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin emphasized the importance of keeping the bilateral dialogue going with China. He clarified that a war with China was not imminent or unavoidable during a defense forum in Singapore. This statement followed a recent conversation between Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, marking the first face-to-face meeting between the top defense officials since communication was cut off between the U.S. and Chinese militaries.
Austin highlighted the significance of maintaining open channels of communication between the two countries’ militaries. He stressed the need to address troublesome issues and prevent misperceptions or miscalculations that could escalate tensions. Austin expressed concerns about provocative actions by Chinese forces around the Taiwan Strait and emphasized that China should not use Taiwan’s presidential transition as an excuse for coercive measures.
Despite rising tensions in the region, Austin believed that dialogue between the U.S. and China could help de-escalate the situation and prevent a full-scale war. He stressed the importance of world leaders working together to reduce misunderstandings and miscalculations. Austin also reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to defending the navigation rights of China’s maritime neighbors, particularly the Philippines, a mutual defense treaty partner.
Austin reiterated that the U.S. remains dedicated to upholding the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines, emphasizing its ironclad commitment to the alliance. He refused to speculate on hypothetical scenarios involving clashes with China but emphasized the need to prevent unnecessary escalation. Austin’s goal is to ensure that situations do not spiral out of control and to continue supporting allies and partners in the region. Please rewrite the following sentence:
“I am unable to attend the meeting tomorrow due to a prior commitment.”
“I regret to inform you that I cannot attend the meeting tomorrow because of a prior engagement.”
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