US and China defense chiefs set to hold rare direct talks in Singapore | DW News

The US and Chinese defense chiefs are set to hold rare direct talks in Singapore this weekend.

The expected meeting between Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun will take place at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a security forum that's become a barometer of US-China relations.

If they go ahead, they'll be the first first substantive face-to-face talks between US and Chinese defense chiefs in 18 months. It's hoped an open dialogue between two of the world's most powerful militaries will prevent confrontations in the region from spinning out of control – especially the flashpoint disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

For more on this, we talk to Oriana Skylar Mastro, an expert on Chinese politics. She is currently a fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University and also with the Cárnegie endowment for international peace. Her book "Upstart. How China Became a Great Power" looks at how China has successfuly competed for power in the past 3 decades.

And we talk to Harrison Prétat. He is deputy director and fellow with the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

00:00 Intro and report
04:00 Interview with Oriana Skylar Mastro
11:35 Interview with Harrison Prétat

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[JayTeeGR]

There are some guys who think that they can start ww3 and somehow contain it in a specific region, this is impossible, everyone will suffer if this really happens...

[jaece]

"We'll accept your Declaration of War in the morning... Have a Good Evening." 😂😂😂

[wayph]

Philippines knew media is more powerful than sword

[taetaeya]

Singapore is always a great mediator being a neutral country

[bettywang]

The disputed area belong to Taiwan (Republic of China); Treaty of Peace between Japan and the Republic of China; Signed at Taipei, April 28, 1952; Ratified July 8, 1952; Ratifications exchanged at Taipei, August 5, 1952; Entered into force, August 5, 1952;
【ARTICLE II】
It is recognized that under Article 2 of the Treaty of Peace with Japan signed at the city of San Francisco in the United States of America on September 8, 1951 (hereinafter referred to as the San Francisco Treaty), Japan has renounced all right, title and claim to Taiwan (Formosa) and Penghu (the Pescadores) as well as the 【Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands】.

[julioduan]

2:20 As always, DW and other western media never correctly translated what Chinese side was saying.

[keirenle]

Well, I don't know if it helps but I guess one can try

[jbnf]

You've got to set a time frame for the question. In infinite time, extremely likely. In the short term, extremely unlikely.

[meanderingbird]

The worlds leaders are truly losing their grip on consequences.

[andrewsarantakes]

The purpose of a mutual defense treaty is to deter.. If deterrance fails, then the agressor has incurred the response from the third party. If the partners in the mutual defense treaty take no action to deter, then the treaty is, in effect, a dead letter.

[samsungtap]

South China sea...Chinese submarine base at Hainan Island is built inside a mountain James Bond style. There in lies the Chinese nuclear Jin class submarines (Boomers) so the disputes in the SCS are not about fish or anything like that it's about the US having the resources to trackand destroy "Jin" class boomers before they reach the androv trench and disappear ?
Someone is banging on the door, maybe i've said to much...greetings from Vietnam

[kenyup]

from my Chinese perspective, no way, who needs a war with the US right, why two countries need war right

[johnliew]

They should meet up and discuss the matter at karaoke or night club accompany by pretty hostesses.
This is how army generals or dignitaries, during the olden days settle their dispute.

[itconsgenio]

The question is as old as civilisation itself.

[rogueagent]

The Philippines is part of the first island chain to contain the Chinese navy.. The rest of the south east asian countries aren't. The USA also has been recently allowed to establish military bases north of the Philippines to counter China in case it finally decides to invade Taiwan. How is the 2nd expert even considered as. an experi

[angelosupsup]

Philippine is committed to follow international laws since Indonesia and Philippines brought the issues to arbitration and international laws awarded the island to Indonesia then Philippines respect international laws decisions.
But china is different they want international laws should follow their china laws.

[Cz-De-Lifestyle]

Depends what kina war. A kinetic one is unthinkable at any point. But other wars like economics and espionage have always been there...

[birdeyecloud]

I guess they won't be discussed war but they will talk about trade deal.

[Baludrider]

You guys didn’t do your study. The Philippine situation is unique. It’s because Chinese has a military base inside ECZ of the Philippines. Some of the Chinese base is less than hundred miles

[timallison]

unlikely. how do people constantly forget about nuclear deterrence?