US, Chinese defence chiefs to meet at Singapore gathering following Taiwan tension

WASHINGTON – US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet his Chinese counterpart, the Pentagon announced on May 24, after Beijing carried out war games around Taiwan in a message to the US-backed democracy’s new leader.

The Pentagon said Mr Austin will meet Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun when they attend the May 31-June 2 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an annual gathering of defence officials from around the world.

China this week

encircled Taiwan with warships and fighter jets

in a test of its ability to seize the island, which it claims as its own. The drills follow the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who has vowed to safeguard self-ruling Taiwan’s democracy.

Mr Austin’s meeting with Admiral Dong had been widely expected since Mr Austin spoke to him by telephone in April, in what were the first substantive talks between the two powers’ defence chiefs in nearly 18 months.

US President Joe Biden’s administration and China have been stepping up communication to ease friction, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting Beijing and Shanghai in April.

But defence talks had lagged behind until Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to a resumption of military dialogue during a summit with Mr Biden in California in November.

Mr Austin will also travel next week to Cambodia for talks with defence ministers of Asean and end his trip in France, where he will join Mr Biden in commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June 1944.

The trip was announced even though Mr Austin late on May 24 handed over duties for about 2½ hours to his deputy, Ms Kathleen Hicks, due to his latest medical procedure.

Mr Austin is a key figure in Western efforts to support Ukraine against a Russian offensive.

He “underwent a successful, elective and minimally invasive follow-up non-surgical procedure” related to a previously reported bladder issue at the Walter Reed military hospital in Washington, said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.

During the procedure, Ms Hicks served as acting secretary of defence, and Mr Austin “resumed his functions and duties” as defence secretary later on the evening of May 24 and returned home, Major-General Ryder said.

The transparency comes after a furore when Mr Austin vanished from public view for cancer treatment in December and again in January when he suffered complications.

A spotlight-shunning retired general, Mr Austin, 70, said later that he was a “pretty private guy” and did not want to burden others with his problems.

But Mr Biden’s Republican rivals went on the attack after it was revealed that Mr Austin did not inform the chain of command.

Mr Austin widely informed the government and public when he returned to the hospital in February for the bladder issue connected with May 24’s procedure. AFP