Singapore, June 6 (ZXS) -- "On the one hand, it is said to ensure the centrality of ASEAN in the region, and on the other hand, the United States is building multilateral alliance mechanisms, such as AUKUS (AUKUS, the three-country alliance of the United States, Britain and Australia). Is there a contradiction between U.S.-led and ASEAN-centric? ”
On the morning of 3 July, Zhang Chi, deputy director of the National Security Strategy Teaching and Research Office of the National Security College of the National Defense University, who was attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, raised the above questions with US Secretary of Defense Austin.
On the same day, Austin made a speech at the plenary meeting of the "Incense Meeting" with the theme of "U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific region". In the subsequent Q&A session, Zhang Chi asked Austin three times in a row: Can the United States "lead" the Asia-Pacific region? Does this contradict ASEAN centrality? How can ASEAN's centrality be ensured?
Austin's answer to this question fell on "AUKUS will work to ensure the security and stability of the region", which is obviously not satisfactory. Zhang Chi also said that the US defense secretary's answer was "completely biased."
Zhang Chi pointed out that it is impossible for the United States to truly lead the Asia-Pacific region. The series of exclusive multilateralism promoted by the United States will only exacerbate confrontation and division in the region, force some countries to choose sides, and generally speaking, will only cause war and chaos in the region.
"We have seen this approach pursued by the United States, which has been a chaos in Europe and in the Middle East for the past 40 years. In contrast, over the past 40 years, Asia has been largely the most peaceful and stable place in the world, which is why it has achieved economic development. Zhang Chi said.
The expert also pointed out that the three major initiatives proposed by China, namely the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, are aimed at enhancing exchanges and communication and promoting peace and development. That is what the international community needs today. "At present, peace and development are arguably the most valuable international public goods. Under the circumstances of great power competition and geostrategic games, how to safeguard peace and development is the most important issue before us. (End)