US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with China's Defence Minister Dong Jun on Friday, on the sidelines of the the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Austin expressed concern about Chinese military activity near Taiwan, adding that China should not use Taiwan as a pretext for "coercive measures," a Pentagon spokesperson said after the meeting, reports DW. 

In recent years, the annual forum has become a barometer of US-China relations. Defense chiefs from around the world are in attendance.

What did the Chinese defense minister say?

Meanwhile, a Chinese defense spokesperson called the talks "positive, practical and constructive."

However, in the meeting, China's Dong Jun told Austin that Washington's actions on Taiwan had seriously violated the One-China principle, spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters.

Dong further said that China was committed to resolving disagreements with the Philippines on the South China Sea but tolerance for provocations has a limit. 

Touching on the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Dong told Austin that China had honored its commitment to not provide weapons to either side in the Ukraine war with strict control over its arms export and called on his US counterpart to help establish peace in the Middle East.

First US-China defense meeting since 2022

All eyes are on the ministers and their first substantive in-person interaction since 2022. The meeting offers hopes for more military dialogues between the superpowers on contentious issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Just a week ago, China held military drills around Taiwan and warned of war over the US-backed territory after President Lai Ching-te became President. China has described him as a "dangerous separatist."

Austin is scheduled to deliver a speech at the forum on Saturday while Dong will speak on Sunday.

"China believes that high-level China-US strategic military communications help stabilize military-to-military relations; China maintains an open attitude towards this," Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said on Thursday.

The US and China have been making efforts to step up and keep communication lines open over the last several months, after relations between the two countries hit rock bottom in the last couple of years due to an alleged Chinese spy balloon, tensions over Taiwan and the Philipines, and China's support for Russia in its war in Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing and Shanghai last month.

Bd pratidin English/Lutful Hoque