<Anchor> The
Asian security conference, the Shangri-La Dialogue, where the defense chiefs of the Asia-Pacific region gather, opened yesterday (10th) in Singapore.
It was the first meeting between the US and Chinese defense ministers since the Biden administration took office, and a war of nerves erupted over the Taiwan issue in particular.
Reporter Kim A-young reports.
<Reporter>
The defense chiefs of the United States and China met him face to face at the summit.
High-level officials from the United States and China met at the Asian Security Conference in Singapore for the first time in three years in the aftermath of COVID-19.
It is the first face-to-face meeting between the U.S. and China defense chiefs since the Biden administration took office, and the first in two months since a phone call in April.
During the nearly hour-long meeting, the two sides quarreled over the Taiwan issue.
U.S. Defense Secretary Austin said the U.S. remains consistent with its one-China policy, but has urged China to refrain from actions that create destabilization in Taiwan.
China's Defense Minister Wei Fenghe expressed displeasure, recalling the recent US approval of arms exports to Taiwan.
[Wu Qian/Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson: Director Wei emphasized that if anyone dares to divide Taiwan (separation from China), the Chinese military will definitely go to war and will not regret it.]
Security issues in the region, including the North Korean issue It is also interpreted that the possibility of North Korea's nuclear test is also on the table.
Secretary Austin will be the speaker today and Director Wei will be the speaker at this plenary session tomorrow.
Over the US Indo-Pacific strategy, the US is expected to engage in a public opinion battle emphasizing legitimacy and China emphasizing injustice, so another war of nerves is expected.