U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin vowed Saturday that Washington would not stand for any 맥스카지노�coercion and bullying맥스카지노� 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 맥스카지노�free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific within a world of rules and rights맥스카지노� 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.맥스카지노�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.맥스카지노�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 맥스카지노� ticking off many issues of importance to Asian-Pacific nations.맥스카지노�We're doubling down on our alliances and partnerships,맥스카지노� 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.맥스카지노�To be clear, we do not seek conflict or confrontation,맥스카지노� he said. 맥스카지노�But we will not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion.맥스카지노�Underscoring Austin's words, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer and a Canadian frigate sailed Saturday through the Taiwan Strait, 맥스카지노�waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law,맥스카지노� 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 맥스카지노�overtly or covertly making false accusations against China맥스카지노� in his address.Speaking with reporters after Austin spoke, Jing alleged the U.S. has been 맥스카지노�deceiving and exploiting맥스카지노� Asia-Pacific nations to advance its own self-interests to preserve 맥스카지노�its dominant position" in the region.He suggested that Washington has been holding on to alliances that are 맥스카지노�remnants of the Cold War맥스카지노� and establishing new pacts, like the AUKUS agreement with Britain and Australia and the 맥스카지노�Quad맥스카지노� grouping with Australia, India and Japan 맥스카지노�to divide the world into ideologically-driven camps and provoke confrontation.맥스카지노�Jing, who took no questions, said that by contrast, 맥스카지노�China is committed to the region's development and prosperity.맥스카지노�Austin sought to assure China that the U.S. remained 맥스카지노�deeply committed맥스카지노� to the longstanding one-China policy, which recognizes Beijing as the government of China but allows informal relations with Taiwan, and continues to 맥스카지노�categorically oppose unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.맥스카지노�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.맥스카지노�맥스카지노�Conflict is neither imminent nor inevitable,맥스카지노� Austin said. 맥스카지노�Deterrence is strong today 맥스카지노� and it맥스카지노�s our job to keep it that way. The whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.맥스카지노�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 맥스카지노�Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's sovereign territory.맥스카지노�맥스카지노�There's no room for us to concede or compromise,맥스카지노� he said.He added that 맥스카지노�China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and the adjacent waters.맥스카지노�Li, who became China맥스카지노�s defense minister in March, declined Austin맥스카지노�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.맥스카지노�A cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantive engagement,맥스카지노� 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 맥스카지노� but predate its invasion of Ukraine 맥스카지노� that were imposed in 2018 over Li맥스카지노�s involvement in China맥스카지노�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.맥스카지노�For responsible defense leaders, the right time to talk is anytime,맥스카지노� Austin said. 맥스카지노�The right time to talk is every time. And the right time to talk is now.맥스카지노�Jing said, however, that lines of communication needed to be based upon 맥스카지노�mutual respect.맥스카지노�맥스카지노�But the U.S. has been calling for communications on one hand and undermining China맥스카지노�s interests and concerns on the other,맥스카지노� he said.The U.S. has noted that since 2021 맥스카지노� well before Li became defense minister 맥스카지노� 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.