Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Defense Minister United States of America Lloyd Austin says China recently carried out extensive Chinese military operations near Taiwan. This operation he called resembled a simulated exercise to attack Taiwan.
Representing the US, Austin reiterated Washington’s strong support for Taipei.
“It looks like they are exploring their true abilities. It looks like practice,” Austin said as quoted by AFP on Sunday (5/12).
He said the US remains committed to supporting Taiwan to defend its sovereignty.
In a speech at a national defense forum at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, Austin underlined the stark differences between Washington and Beijing.
In recent months, China’s military has carried out a series of increasingly aggressive naval and air military operations near Taiwan, which it claims is a unitary People’s Republic of China.
Some analysts suspect China may be testing Biden’s leadership during his first year in office.
Austin said that currently only China has the economic, diplomatic, military and technological strength to face the ongoing challenges of a stable and open international system.
According to him, the two largest economic powers in the world, namely the US and China, have striking differences both in terms of interests and values held.
He said Chinese leaders were increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with the prevailing order and about their goal of removing the US from the global leadership role.
“We are not looking for confrontation or conflict. We are not looking for a new cold war or a world divided into rigid blocs,” he said
In the face of China’s challenge, the retired four-star military general said the United States would deepen its relations with friendly countries in the region, including through joint exercises.
“We remain steadfast on our One-China policy, but also on our commitment from the Taiwan Relations Act to support Taiwan’s self-defense while maintaining our capacity to resist any violent attempt that would endanger the security of the Taiwanese people,” he concluded.
(well/bac)
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