US Defense Secretary Assesses Likelihood of War with China

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has stated that military conflict with China is not unavoidable, despite rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. His remarks were quoted by the Associated Press.

Austin emphasized the importance of renewing high-level military dialogue between Washington and Beijing to avoid "miscalculations and misunderstandings."

“In my opinion, war or confrontation with China is not inevitable. The leaders of major powers must work together to ensure that we are doing everything we can to reduce the risks of miscalculations and misunderstandings,” said the US Defense Secretary.

Meanwhile, General-Lieutenant Zhang Zhaozhong, deputy chief of staff of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, stated during the "Shangri-La Dialogue" security forum in Singapore that the US Indo-Pacific strategy is a blueprint for creating disputes and military confrontation in the region, which has no future.