Thread by @TangAnZhu

#SLD23

More and more, the countries of the Indo-Pacific have come together around a compelling vision of the future.

It’s a vision of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific within a world of rules and rights.

It’s a vision of a region in which all countries are free to thrive on their own terms—without coercion, intimidation, or bullying.
 
It’s a vision of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific within a world of rules and rights.

And that vision is anchored in some key principles.
 
Respect for sovereignty.
 
Adherence to international law.
 
Transparency and openness.
 
The free flow of commerce and ideas.

And resolving disputes through peaceful dialogue, not coercion or conquest.

Just look at the crisis caused by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
 
The Kremlin’s indefensible war of choice stands as the bloodiest conflict in Europe since the end of World War II.

And Russia’s shocking aggression has brought home to people everywhere how dangerous our world would become if big countries could just invade their peaceful neighbors with impunity.
 
Russia’s invasion shows us all the dangers of disorder and the cost of chaos.

This year, as president of the G-7, Japan has focused on connectivity and on bridging the gap with developing countries. That includes pledging to invest $75 billion in public and private funds for regional infrastructure that can weather the storms of climate change.

Around the region, countries are matching their words with their actions, insisting on resolving differences through dialogue, and calling for even closer cooperation.

And so are we.

The United States is working together with our friends more closely every day.
 
We’re doubling down on our alliances and partnerships.
 
And our National Defense Strategy calls for us to work more closely with our allies and partners at every stage of defense planning.

Our shared goals are clear: to deter aggression and to deepen the rules and norms that promote prosperity and prevent conflict.
 
So we’re stepping up planning, coordination, and training with our friends from the East China Sea to the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean.

At the same time, we’re working closely with our allies to upgrade our force posture in the region. We’re making our presence more distributed, more agile, and more resilient. And that will bring greater stability and security to the region.

We are committed to ensuring that every country can fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows. And every country, large or small, must remain free to conduct lawful maritime activities.

through the historic AUKUS partnership, we’re cooperating with Australia and the U.K. on a range of path-breaking capabilities…. we announced AUKUS will deliver conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, all with the purpose of upholding peace and stability.

The United States is absolutely proud to expand our cooperation with ASEAN. We remain staunch supporters of ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. And we have stepped up our work through the ADMM+, including new programs…

We’re also continuing to expand our marquee maritime initiative with the Quad. The Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness will help partners across the region better monitor the waters near their shores.

We’ll continue to stand by our allies and partners as they uphold their rights. We’ll maintain our vigorous, responsible presence across the Indo-Pacific. And we’ll continue to work to ensure that no one country can assert control over shared waterways.

In the South China Sea, we will continue to work with our allies and partners to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight. And let me again underscore the importance of the 2016 ruling by the Arbitral Tribunal.

It is legally binding, and it is final.

We won’t be deterred by dangerous operational behavior at sea or in international airspace.

The People’s Republic of China continues to conduct an alarming number of risky intercepts of U.S. and allied aircraft flying lawfully in international airspace. And we’ve all just clearly seen another troubling case of aggressive and unprofessional flying by the PRC.

So we will support our allies and partners as they defend themselves against coercion and bullying.
 
We do not seek conflict or confrontation. But we will not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion.

So we will support our allies and partners as they defend themselves against coercion and bullying.
 
We do not seek conflict or confrontation. But we will not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion.
 
Now, all of this is especially important in the Taiwan Strait.

Let me be clear. The United States remains deeply committed to preserving the status quo there, consistent with our longstanding one-China policy, and with fulfilling our well-established obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act.

Our policy is constant and firm. It has held true across U.S. administrations. And we will continue to categorically oppose unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.

Conflict is neither imminent nor inevitable. Deterrence is strong today—and it’s our job to keep it that way.

The whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The security of commercial shipping lanes and global supply chains depends on it. And so does freedom of navigation world-wide.
Make no mistake:conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating.

The United States believes that open lines of communication with the People’s Republic of China are essential—especially between our defense and military leaders.
 
For responsible defense leaders, the right time to talk is anytime.
 
The right time to talk is everytime.
#SLD23

And the right time to talk is now.
 
Dialogue is not a reward. It is a necessity.
 
And the more that we talk, the more that we can avoid the misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict.

You know, I am deeply concerned that the PRC has been unwilling to engage more seriously on better mechanisms for crisis management between our two militaries. But I hope that will change, and soon.

I’ve said it before: Great powers must be beacons of transparency and responsibility. And the United States is deeply committed to doing our part.
 
And we are determined to keep this region open, peaceful, and prosperous.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Indo-Pacific has become an extraordinary example of human progress and peaceful cooperation.
 
I’m proud to be here with you. And the United States is proud to be your partner.
 
Conflict and strife are not inevitable.

defense.gov/News/Live-Even…

#SLD23

It’s not a fierce debate. #SLD23 is a constructive dialogue, and an opportunity to build relationships and strengthen partnerships.

https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1664668057757949952

#SLD23

@SecDef responds to @BonnieGlaser asking about Taiwan, affirming that “differences should be resolved through diplomacy.”

When asked about the “contradiction” between the Quad, AUKUS and ASEAN Centrality, @SecDef responds, “this will add greater stability in the region.”

President Xi challenged his military to conduct operations [against Taiwan] by 2027, but that is not necessarily intent.

A conflict is neither imminent, nor inevitable.