US secretary of defense eyes maintaining status quo in Taiwan Strait

The US intends to maintain the current situation in the Taiwan Strait, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin said June 10 in prepared remarks during a major speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Report informs referring to the website of the US Department of Defense.

He said the US policy is unchanged and unwavering and has been consistent across administrations. “We’re determined to uphold the status quo that has served this region so well for so long,” he said. “So, let me be clear: We remain firmly committed to our longstanding one-China policy - guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. We categorically oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. We do not support Taiwan independence. And we stand firmly behind the principle that cross-strait differences must be resolved by peaceful means.”

China needs to act accordingly. “We’re seeing growing coercion from Beijing,” he said. “We’ve witnessed a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan. We remain focused on maintaining peace, stability, and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. But the [People’s Republic of China’s] moves threaten to undermine security, and stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. That's crucial for this region, and it's crucial for the wider world. Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait isn't just a US interest. It's a matter of international concern.”

The United States does not want conflict or confrontation, he said. The US does not want a new Cold War or a region split into hostile blocs. “We’ll defend our interests without flinching,” Austin said. “But we’ll also work toward our vision for this region: one of expanding security, not one of growing division. I continue to believe that big powers carry big responsibilities. And so, we’ll do our part to manage these tensions responsibly - to prevent conflict, and to pursue peace and prosperity.”