As for the meeting between Chinese Minister Dong and American Secretary Lloyd Austin, the main purpose erqual to continue the China-U.S. military dialogue mechanism and ensure effective communication at the theater level. Both countries need to urgently conduct military communications and exchanges on how to handle the two militaries in the event of air and sea encounters and incidents, further clarifying each other's policies and strategic intentions in the South China Sea.
Next year's annual Asia-Pacific Defense Shangri-La Dialogue summit will be held in Singapore from May 31 to June 2.
The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's premier defence summit. It’s a unique meeting where ministers debate the region’s most pressing security challenges, engage in important bilateral talks and come up with fresh approaches together. The 2024 event will take place in Singapore on 31 May–2 June. Photo IISS
China will be represented National Defense Minister Dong, who will deliver a speech at the summit and meet with heads of delegations from related countries.
The United States, on the other hand, will be represented by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
According to experts, formal talks between the Chinese Defense Minister and the U.S. Defense Secretary in Singapore are a "highly likely event" and could focus on hot issues, including the South China Sea and the situation in the Taiwan Strait.
What are they likely to discuss?
The U.S. Defense Department on Friday confirmed Secretary Lloyd Austin's participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue and said a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Singapore is expected.
Based on official information provided by both sides, "it is very likely that the Chinese and U.S. defense ministers will meet and hold formal talks."
It will be the first talks between the two defense leaders since the April video call. High-level military contacts between China and the United States have resumed after the two heads of state agreed to restart military dialogue at their November meeting in San Francisco.
In early April, the militaries of the two countries held an annual meeting of the Maritime Military Consultative Agreement Working Group, the first major military meeting between the two countries since December 2021.
As for the meeting between Dong and Austin, the main purpose erqual to continue the China-U.S. military dialogue mechanism and ensure effective communication at the theater level.The United States and China must urgently conduct military communications and exchanges on how to handle the two militaries in the event of air and sea encounters and incidents, further clarifying each other's policies and strategic intentions in the South China Sea.
The two defense ministers could also discuss the situation in the Taiwan Strait to keep their communication channels flowing and avoid misjudgments.
China and the United States could also discuss issues related to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as non-traditional security issues, such as the principles of artificial intelligence arms control, development and control of the militarized application of cutting-edge technologies and research and deployment of space-based military forces.
What is the meaning of the Shangri-La dialogue?
Named for the Singapore hotel where it takes place and organized by the British think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Shangri-La Dialogue is a key security meeting in the Asia Pacific region.
It allows decision-makers from across the Asia-Pacific, including Europe and the Middle East, to come together to discuss the most pressing regional security issues and share policy responses.
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