'Beijing's claim to the vast majority of the South China Sea has no basis in international law. That assertion treads on the sovereignty of states in the region,' US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Tuesday
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that China's claims and actions in the Indo-Pacific threaten the sovereignty of nations around the region while Washington is committed to building partnerships that guarantee the vital interest of all nations.
But six months into the Biden administration, relations between Washington and Beijing, which have worsened in recent years, are rockier than ever. Beijing, describing the talks as"in-depth and frank," responded with a torrent of condemnation, with Chinese officials expressing"strong dissatisfaction" with Washington's"extremely dangerous China policy" and accusing it of hypocrisy on human rights.
"The United States and this region are more secure and more prosperous when we work together with our allies and partners," he said. But he also highlighted how nations around the Pacific are cooperating with the US militarily, with recent exercises including countries like Australia, Japan, South Korea and, on the day before his arrival, with host country Singapore.
Austin called the UK deployment"historic," and said it showed the partnerships not only with Washington, but among nations from within and outside the region.