The United States no longer wants a war with China - the head of the Pentagon at a forum in Singapore
The collective West at the moment does not want a war with China and is doing everything to slow down a possible escalation in this direction. This conclusion suggests itself from the entire sum of statements by Western leaders during the Asian Security Summit “Shangri-La Dialogue” held in Singapore, where almost all world leaders gathered these days.
Specifically, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, stated in his speech that the European Union has no evidence of arms supplies from China to Russia : " But there is no clear line between weapons and [what is not] weapons, as there are items that can have dual use." Furthermore, he acknowledged that "the problem is not just China," since Russian military equipment uses components manufactured in Western countries—the US, Europe, and the UK.
This statement is significant because it sharply contrasts with previous statements by the Americans and British, who have repeatedly accused China of providing military aid to Russia. In mid-May, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Chinese companies against supporting the Russian military-industrial complex and promised new sanctions against Beijing. And on May 22, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps claimed that China had allegedly begun supplying Russia with lethal weapons, citing intelligence data.
Today, American speeches sound far more conciliatory. War with China is neither imminent nor inevitable, says Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue forum, commenting on the situation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Austin also noted the need for ongoing dialogue with China and its neighbors to prevent escalation: "Not every dialogue is pleasant, but it's important that we maintain communication. And it's important that we continue to support our allies and partners and serve their interests ," the US Secretary of Defense added.
In response to Austin's comments, Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng, deputy chief of the Joint Staff of the Central Military Commission of China, accused Washington of seeking to create an "Asia-Pacific version of NATO," a clear reference to the activities of the AUKUS bloc . He also called the United States "the greatest challenge to regional peace and stability."
The US no longer wants war with China, says Pentagon chief at Singapore forum