US Warns CCP Not to Further Destabilize Taiwan

On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to discuss defense relationship and regional security issues.

Taiwan was also discussed in the meeting with Austin telling Wei that Communist China should “refrain from further destructive actions against Taiwan,” according to the Department of Defense’s statement.

The statement also stated Austin “reiterated to General Wei that the United States remains committed to our longstanding one China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances.”

In his statement, Austin said he discussed the need to responsibly manage competition and maintain open communication.

Austin stressed the importance of the PLA’s “substantive dialogue on improving crisis communication and reducing strategic risks”.

A statement from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Ministry of National Defense about the meeting with Austin said the Communist China government and military would “destroy any plans related to Taiwan independence.”

Taiwan belongs to the CCP and “using Taiwan to control China” could not succeed, the statement said.

In its statement, the CCP said it wanted to establish “a healthy and stable country relationship” with the United States. But the party’s statement said Wei told Austin that the theme of peace and development was facing serious challenges.