China and Singapore on Thursday laid the groundwork for a hotline between the 2 countries that may establish a high-level communications link between Beijing and a close US partner in Asia at a time when Chinese tensions with Washington are high and dialogue has stalled.
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, a general of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army who was appointed minister in March, signed a memorandum of understanding together with his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen to work on establishing a secure telephone link “for high-level communication between our defense leaders.” , according to a statement issued by Singapore.
“Such high-level open lines of communication are vital to foster mutual understanding and trust,” the statement said, without giving a timeline for once they could be established.
Li is on his first visit to Singapore as defense minister and has extensively discussed global and regional security issues with a range of officials.
Singapore said the 2 countries’ defense institutions “frequently interact through bilateral and multilateral exercises” and that its visit underscores “longstanding, warm and friendly” relations.
At the identical time, Singapore is a close military and economic partner of the US, and the agreement to establish a direct telephone connection is due to tense communication between Washington and Beijing.
While in Singapore, Li is anticipated to deliver a speech at a meeting of security officials on the La Dialogue Security Conference on Saturday.
Amongst many issues, China has been annoyed by American support for Taiwan, a self-governing democracy it considers its own territory, the shooting down of what the US called a Chinese spy balloon, and sanctions aimed directly at Li.
These sanctions are related to Washington’s broad package of measures against Russia, but they precede the invasion of Ukraine and were imposed in 2018 over Li’s involvement in China’s purchase of warplanes and anti-aircraft missiles from Moscow.
The sanctions that essentially prevent Li from doing business in the US don’t prevent him from holding official talks, the US said.
Earlier this week, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said Austin’s offer for talks in Singapore was rejected since the US “disregards China’s concerns and creates artificial obstacles.”
“The American side should take practical steps to show sincerity and correct mistakes to create the mandatory conditions and the suitable atmosphere for communication and exchange between the 2 sides,” he said, without directly mentioning sanctions or other issues.