China is continuing to harden its position along the borders with India, according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd James Austin, who stated on Saturday that the United States stands by its allies as they defend their rights in the face of Beijing’s “war coercive” and “aggressive approach” to its territorial claims. Austin emphasised that the United States stands by its allies as they defend their rights in the face of China’s territorial claims.
Austin made this observation while speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. He stated that China is pushing its unlawful maritime ambitions while also pursuing aggressive and illegal approaches to the lands it claims in the South China Sea.
He stated, “Further to the West, we see Beijing continuing to stiffen the stance along the borders it shares with India.” “We see Beijing continuing to harden the posture along the borders it shares with India.”
Since May 5, 2020, when a violent fight between the Indian and Chinese forces occurred in the Pangong lake region, the Indian and Chinese troops have been involved in a tense stalemate on the border in eastern Ladakh.
In the regions that border India, China has also been constructing residential units, highways, and residential bridges. Other forms of infrastructure, such as bridges, have also been built.
There are maritime boundary disputes between China and a number of nations in the Indo-Pacific area, including Japan and Vietnam, amongst others.
Austin provided assurance by saying that “We remain resolute in our mutual defence obligations.”
His remarks came just a few days after a top US General had stated that some of the defence infrastructure that is being created by China near its border with India in Ladakh is “alarming,” and that the Chinese activity in that region is “eye-opening.” His comments came as a response to that statement.
While on a visit to India on Wednesday, the Pacific Commanding General of the United States Army, Charles A. Flynn, raised concerns over the Chinese infrastructure build-up. He also stated that the “destabilising and corrosive” behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific region is simply not helpful.
In addition, Austin emphasised to the defence delegates participating in the discussion in Singapore the significance of the joint exercises that had been carried out in the Indian Ocean by the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force the previous spring.
Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam all lay claim to portions of the South China Sea; however, China claims ownership over the vast majority of the waterway.
Beijing has constructed man-made islands and military outposts in the contested waters of the South China Sea. There are territorial disputes between China and Japan in the East China Sea as well.
According to reports, both the South China Sea and the East China Sea contain a substantial amount of minerals, oil, and other types of natural resources. They are also very important to international commerce.
Regarding the Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, which is composed of India, the United States of America, Japan, and Australia, he said that the summit that took place in Tokyo a month ago brought together the most important contributors to the world’s wealth and security.
According to Austin, the leaders of the Quad are keen to collaborate with ASEAN and the Pacific Islands in order to accomplish “our common interests.”
Since 2015, he emphasised, Australia, India, and Japan have been having security conversations about maritime security cooperation.
The defence secretary made the observation that in recent weeks Japan and the Philippines have begun a new 2+2 discussion. Australia and India have also begun this kind of communication.
He told the delegates that in addition to working together, they are “working together to make the security architecture visible and more inclusive.”