U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin vowed Saturday that Washington would not stand for any 바카라 게임 웹사이트�coercion and bullying바카라 게임 웹사이트� of its allies and partners by China, while assuring Beijing that the United States remains committed to maintaining the status quo on Taiwan and would prefer dialogue over conflict.Video above: Chinese jet intercepts US spy planeSpeaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual forum bringing together top defense officials, diplomats and leaders in Singapore, Austin lobbied for support for Washington's vision of a 바카라 게임 웹사이트�free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific within a world of rules and rights바카라 게임 웹사이트� as the best course to counter increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region.The U.S. has been expanding its own activities around the Indo-Pacific to counter sweeping territorial claims from China, including regularly sailing through and flying over the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea.바카라 게임 웹사이트�We are committed to ensuring that every country can fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," he said at the forum hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank. "And every country, large or small, must remain free to conduct lawful maritime activities.바카라 게임 웹사이트�Austin noted that the U.S. had provided millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine during the height of the pandemic and is regularly involved in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance efforts in the region. He said it is working to combat climate change, illegal fishing and ensure that supply chains do not suffer disruptions 바카라 게임 웹사이트� ticking off many issues of importance to Asian-Pacific nations.바카라 게임 웹사이트�We're doubling down on our alliances and partnerships,바카라 게임 웹사이트� he said.He said the U.S. is also committed to deterring North Korea's missile threat and China's claims on Taiwan, a self-governing island democracy that Beijing says is its territory, and said Washington has been stepping up defense planning, coordination and training with partner nations in the region.바카라 게임 웹사이트�To be clear, we do not seek conflict or confrontation,바카라 게임 웹사이트� he said. 바카라 게임 웹사이트�But we will not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion.바카라 게임 웹사이트�Underscoring Austin's words, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer and a Canadian frigate sailed Saturday through the Taiwan Strait, 바카라 게임 웹사이트�waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law,바카라 게임 웹사이트� the U.S. 7th Fleet said. There was no immediate word of a Chinese response.In Singapore, Chinese Lt. Gen. Jing Jianfeng, a senior member of the delegation accompanying Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu, accused Austin of 바카라 게임 웹사이트�overtly or covertly making false accusations against China바카라 게임 웹사이트� in his address.Speaking with reporters after Austin spoke, Jing alleged the U.S. has been 바카라 게임 웹사이트�deceiving and exploiting바카라 게임 웹사이트� Asia-Pacific nations to advance its own self-interests to preserve 바카라 게임 웹사이트�its dominant position" in the region.He suggested that Washington has been holding on to alliances that are 바카라 게임 웹사이트�remnants of the Cold War바카라 게임 웹사이트� and establishing new pacts, like the AUKUS agreement with Britain and Australia and the 바카라 게임 웹사이트�Quad바카라 게임 웹사이트� grouping with Australia, India and Japan 바카라 게임 웹사이트�to divide the world into ideologically-driven camps and provoke confrontation.바카라 게임 웹사이트�Jing, who took no questions, said that by contrast, 바카라 게임 웹사이트�China is committed to the region's development and prosperity.바카라 게임 웹사이트�Austin sought to assure China that the U.S. remained 바카라 게임 웹사이트�deeply committed바카라 게임 웹사이트� to the longstanding one-China policy, which recognizes Beijing as the government of China but allows informal relations with Taiwan, and continues to 바카라 게임 웹사이트�categorically oppose unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.바카라 게임 웹사이트�He added that Russia's invasion of Ukraine had served to underline how dangerous the world would be if big countries were able to "just invade their peaceful neighbors with impunity.바카라 게임 웹사이트�바카라 게임 웹사이트�Conflict is neither imminent nor inevitable,바카라 게임 웹사이트� Austin said. 바카라 게임 웹사이트�Deterrence is strong today 바카라 게임 웹사이트� and it바카라 게임 웹사이트�s our job to keep it that way. The whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.바카라 게임 웹사이트�But Jing accused the U.S. of hollowing out the one-China policy, accusing Washington of supporting Taiwanese separatists without citing any evidence, and reiterating Beijing's claim that 바카라 게임 웹사이트�Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's sovereign territory.바카라 게임 웹사이트�바카라 게임 웹사이트�There's no room for us to concede or compromise,바카라 게임 웹사이트� he said.He added that 바카라 게임 웹사이트�China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and the adjacent waters.바카라 게임 웹사이트�Li, who became China바카라 게임 웹사이트�s defense minister in March, declined Austin바카라 게임 웹사이트�s invitation to talk on the sidelines of the conference, though the two did shake hands before sitting down at opposite sides of the same table together as the forum opened Friday.Austin said this was not enough.바카라 게임 웹사이트�A cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantive engagement,바카라 게임 웹사이트� he said.Li, who was named defense minister in March, is under American sanctions that are part of a broad package of measures against Russia 바카라 게임 웹사이트� but predate its invasion of Ukraine 바카라 게임 웹사이트� that were imposed in 2018 over Li바카라 게임 웹사이트�s involvement in China바카라 게임 웹사이트�s purchase of combat aircraft and anti-aircraft missiles from Moscow.The sanctions, which broadly prevent Li from doing business in the United States, do not prevent him from holding official talks, American defense officials have said.It was not clear whether Li, who is to address the forum Sunday morning, was in the room while Austin talked. He did join the American defense secretary and others later for a ministerial roundtable.Austin reiterated calls that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made in his opening address at the forum for China to engage in regular, direct communications to help prevent any possible conflict.바카라 게임 웹사이트�For responsible defense leaders, the right time to talk is anytime,바카라 게임 웹사이트� Austin said. 바카라 게임 웹사이트�The right time to talk is every time. And the right time to talk is now.바카라 게임 웹사이트�Jing said, however, that lines of communication needed to be based upon 바카라 게임 웹사이트�mutual respect.바카라 게임 웹사이트�바카라 게임 웹사이트�But the U.S. has been calling for communications on one hand and undermining China바카라 게임 웹사이트�s interests and concerns on the other,바카라 게임 웹사이트� he said.The U.S. has noted that since 2021 바카라 게임 웹사이트� well before Li became defense minister 바카라 게임 웹사이트� China has declined or failed to respond to more than a dozen requests from the U.S. Defense Department to talk with senior leaders, as well as multiple requests for standing dialogues and working-level engagements.