US, Chinese defence chiefs meet in Singapore

US and Chinese defence chiefs meet in Singapore, raising hopes for military dialogue amid Taiwan tensions.

The U.S. and Chinese defence chiefs held rare direct talks in Singapore on May 31, offering hopes for more military dialogue that could help prevent disputes over Taiwan and other flashpoint issues from spinning out of control.

The meeting between the United States’ Lloyd Austin and China’s Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue is the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries’ defence chiefs in 18 months.

Mr. Dong and Mr. Austin began the talks shortly before 1:00 p.m. (local time) at the luxury hotel hosting the security forum, a member of the US delegation told reporters.

Defence chiefs and officials from around the world are attending the annual forum that has in recent years become a barometer of US-China relations.

This year's edition comes a week after China held military drills around Taiwan and warned of war over the US-backed island following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing has described as a "dangerous separatist".

The dispute over democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, tops the list of disputes between the rivals.

Beijing is also furious over Washington's deepening defence ties in the Asia-Pacific, particularly with the Philippines, and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.