US Defense Chief Calls on Beijing to Engage in Dialogue to Avoid Conflict

US Defense Chief Calls on Beijing to Engage in Dialogue to Avoid Conflict
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 3, 2023. Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images
Ross Muscato
Updated:
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The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has demonstrated little interest in engaging in serious talks with the United States about the fraying relationship between the global superpowers and the potentially catastrophic consequences, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Austin placed the importance of such talks front and center during a June 3 speech at the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue, a major international security conference held annually in Singapore.