The United States has been warned its China policy is “too weak” to deter Beijing from pushing its hostile rhetoric further.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has intensified aggressive action against US allies in the Indo-Pacific regions, namely the Philippines and Taiwan despite repeated warnings from Washington.
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun renewed threats against unspecified external forces offering both Manila and Taipei support against Beijing in a not-so-subtle swipe at the US.
However, geopolitical analysts have warned Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin failed to hit back at China’s verbal attacks during his recent speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore.
Delegate Justin Baquisal argued Mr Austin’s speech at the summit was “too weak to deter China, who was notably more bellicose toward the Philippines in its language during the Shangri-La Dialogue, and too strong for the comfort of some Southeast Asian states in attendance, who prefer that both the US and China not go into a war of words in the summit.”
By contrast, Dong Jung was more aggressive in his warning against Washington, with defence expert Jennifer Parker saying: “I interpret the message from his speech as ‘we don’t care about what you think.’
“There were a number of threats to the region in his speech, including warning that ‘Taiwan separatists’ would be nailed to the pillar of shame in history and that countries interfering with Beijing’s efforts to reunify with Taiwan would face self-destruction.”
Ms Parker noted the Chinese minister also signalled his country will likely continue to disregard Manila’s claims over the contested South China Sea.
The area has been at the centre of a bitter international dispute which has recently escalated into direct confrontations between the Chinese Coast Guard and its Filipino counterpart.
Ms Parker told VOA: “There was a clear level of disrespect towards the Philippines.”
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