[Global Times reporter Guo Yuandan] US Defense Secretary Austin said on the 3rd that he is looking forward to meeting Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe at the Shangri-La Dialogue (hereinafter referred to as the "Xianghui") to be held in June.

It has been less than a month since he took the initiative to invite the Chinese Defense Minister to speak on April 20. What is the meaning of Austin's signal of hope for a meeting?

In this regard, experts told the Global Times that Austin should hope to maintain contact with China to understand China's policy stance on important issues and avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments.

Claims China is a 'challenging looming challenge'

　　According to US media reports, Austin reiterated when he attended the US Senate Appropriations Committee panel hearing on the 3rd that the main military layout of the Pentagon is still locked in the fight against China's "aggressive bullying behavior."

He stressed that Russia is an "urgent threat", while China is the "challenge" of the United States.

To this end, the U.S. has invested $6 billion in the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, “To complement our National Defense Strategy report, I will strengthen our military posture, infrastructure, military presence, and readiness in the Indo-Pacific, including in Guam's missile defense system."

　　In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded on the 5th that China has always pursued a defensive national defense policy and a military strategy of active defense.

What the US should do is to abandon the Cold War mentality and hegemonic obsession, view China's defense development in an objective and rational way, stop hyping up the "China threat theory", stop making excuses for China, and find excuses for its own military spending and military expansion.

Hope to maintain communication with Chinese military high-level

　　It is worth noting that when answering a question from Democratic Senator Feinstein about the recent phone call between the U.S. and Chinese defense ministers, Austin expressed the hope that he will continue to maintain communication with the top officials of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the future.

"I hope that was the first of many future calls where we all recognize the importance of dialogue and keeping lines of communication open," Austin said. "We all want to make sure we work together to promote security and stability in the region. So I Looking forward to getting in touch with him again." Austin also said that he was looking forward to seeing Wei Fenghe at the "Xianghui" held in June.

　　The "Xianghui" is one of the world's largest and highest-profile multilateral security forums, usually attended by many defense officials and senior military generals.

It has been held at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore since 2002.

Affected by the epidemic, the "Xianghui" in 2020 and 2021 has been cancelled for two consecutive years.

The 2022 "Incense Club" is scheduled to be held from June 10th to 12th.

If this year's "Incense Conference" is held as scheduled, according to the previous practice of Chinese and American delegations to maintain interaction at the "Incense Conference", it will indeed provide the possibility for the first meeting between the defense ministers of China and the United States.

In 2019, Wei Fenghe led a delegation to attend the "Fragrant Meeting", which was the first time that the Chinese Defense Minister led a delegation to attend the meeting again after 8 years.

During the meeting, Wei Fenghe held talks with then-acting US Secretary of Defense Shanahan.

　　One of the hotspots of the annual "Xianghui" is the keynote speech of the US Secretary of Defense. He will use this platform to explain the US's regional security strategy.

Judging from the meeting schedule, the only one who enjoys the same treatment as the US defense secretary is the Chinese defense minister. In 2011, Liang Guanglie and 2019 Wei Fenghe "contracted" a keynote speech by themselves, and the defense ministers of other countries were shared by 2 to 3 people. a theme.

In addition, the interaction between China and the United States during the "Fragrance Fair" is also the most concerned by the world's major media.

Up to now, the Ministry of National Defense of China has not released the official list to participate in this year's "Scented Conference". Under normal circumstances, what level of officials will lead a delegation to participate in the conference will be decided according to the relevant work arrangements.

What is the meaning of Austin's statement?

　　On April 20, Wei Fenghe had a phone call with Austin by appointment. This was the first phone call between the Chinese and American defense ministers during Biden's term.

In less than a month, what is the meaning of Austin's message that he hopes to meet face-to-face with the Chinese defense minister?

　　A source close to the military told the Global Times on the 5th that maintaining high-level communication between the Chinese and American militaries is to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state on the phone call. Relations are developing normally and stably, and at the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to understand China's policy stance on some major issues and avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments."

　　The South China Morning Post quoted Thompson, a senior researcher at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, as saying in a report on the 4th that China and the United States cannot be expected to solve major security and defense issues facing each other only through communication between the two defense ministers. The current political climate in the United States is different.

Where the two sides can work together is to reduce the risk of accidental clashes between the two militaries.

　　Two experts who have participated in the "Xianghui" many times told the Global Times on the 5th that due to the importance of the relationship between China and the United States and the two militaries, China is willing to strengthen communication with the United States.

At the previous "Fragrant Meetings", the head of the Chinese People's Liberation Army delegation will give speeches to explain China's relevant positions and propositions, and will also meet with members of delegations from various countries, including the United States, to increase trust and dispel doubts.

　　An expert said, "face-to-face closed-door exchanges will be more candid, and both sides will express their demands directly, clarify the bottom line, and avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments. If both sides have the will to communicate in depth, many issues can be involved. At the end of April, the national defense At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Defense, Tan Kefei, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, said that a stable relationship between the two militaries is in line with the common interests of the two countries and the common expectations of the international community. principled.

"There is no doubt that if the defense ministers of China and the United States meet in Singapore this time, the Chinese side will definitely talk about the Taiwan issue and reiterate China's solemn position.