German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius attended the Shangri-la Dialogue, Asia’s largest security forum, over the weekend.
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SINGAPORE – China’s growing dominance and power could also be worrying countries all over the world, but one thing is certain: the talks must proceed.
That is in line with defense chiefs from Australia, Canada and Germany, who spoke to CNBC on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore this weekend.
Separation from China is not an option, but finding a strategy to reduce risk and reduce dependency is necessary, Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius Sri Jegarajah of CNBC told the event.
“This is not a solution to be separated. This is not the answer to constructing latest partitions and constructing latest barricades. We’d like to seek out a strategy to coexist meaning we do not develop into too depending on anyone. And along the way in which, we don’t refuse dialogue and cooperation, Pistorius said.
![German Defense Minister: We must rebuild our armed forces after 3 decades of peace dividend](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/107250534-16857561191685756116-29724554275-1080pnbcnews.jpg?v=1685756436&w=750&h=422&vtcrop=y)
China has been Germany’s most vital trading partner over the past decade, with 298 billion euros ($320 billion) price of products exchanged between the 2 countries in 2022, data from – in line with the German statistical office. This is 21% greater than the 12 months before.
“We have to be more resilient on the subject of the long run, also in economic and ecological terms. This is now our challenge for the following few years… This is a common challenge that we must solve,” added Pistorius.
Similarly, China is Australia’s largest trading partner, but the connection between the 2 stays “complex” as China continues to construct its military presence within the region, Richard Marles, Australia’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, told CNBC.
“We have now a lot of concerns about China,” he admitted.
He stressed the importance of formal defense dialogues with China to stop misunderstandings and get a clear picture of every country’s strategic intentions.
“China is engaging in a very significant military build-up, truly the most important conventional military build-up we have seen in any country for the reason that end of World War II, and that is not happening with the sense of strategic certainty afforded to its neighbors and the world,” Marles said. “This is a part of our sense of security when it comes to security with China. But all of the more reason to speak.”
![How Australia-China trade relations collapsed](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/107065974-GettyImages-113172073.jpg?v=1653384592&w=750&h=422&vtcrop=y)
Trade relations between the 2 countries deteriorated in 2020 after Canberra called for an inquiry into China’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Beijing then imposed tariffs and restrictions on Australian imports, including barley, wine and coal, amongst other key products.
There was some respite in April when either side agreed to temporarily suspend a World Trade Organization criticism against China for imposing 80.5% tariffs on Australian barley. Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell told CNBC in April that he hoped other tariffs introduced would even be lifted.
China seen as a “destructive power”
China is an “increasingly disruptive power” for peace within the region, Canada’s defense minister Anita Anand told CNBC. “We have seen increasing disruption from China to our institutions related to democracy in our skies and seas,” Anand said.
“Remember balloons for instance, you already know we have pulled buoys out of our northern waters, and particularly, we’ll be sure Canadian democracy is secure and Canada’s skies and seas are secure,” she said, highlighting the importance of her country’s defense investments.
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry in Singapore was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. In a statement to CNBC on Friday, Beijing’s foreign ministry said China “adheres to the national defense policy based on the principle of self-defense.”
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In February, US fighter jets shot down no less than 4 high-altitude targets within the airspace over america and Canada. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described unmanned high-altitude craft as “Chinese Spy Balloons” and claimed that “greater than 40 countries flew these balloons over their territory.” Beijing denies that the balloons were used for espionage purposes.
Just this weekend, a Chinese warship got here inside 150 yards of a US destroyer within the Taiwan Strait. US Indo-Pacific Command. The Taiwan Strait separates China from Taiwan, an autonomous island that Beijing considers a part of its territory.
In late May, the US accused a Chinese J-16 fighter jet of performing an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” while intercepting a US military reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the South China Sea.
“We must work together as partners and allies to maintain the Indo-Pacific free and open, recognizing that China has develop into an increasingly disruptive global power,” Anand added. “Open lines of communication are necessary, and at the identical time there are actions being taken by China that we must take a look at with our eyes wide open.”
Taiwan query
In the course of the Shangri-La Dialogue, there was much discussion about China’s relationship with Taiwan.
Speaking at Sunday’s event, China’s defense minister addressed the difficulty.
“Our position on this matter is clear. Regardless of what perspective we tackle this issue, one fact is clear, Taiwan is an inalienable a part of China,” Li told delegates on the summit.
“The Chinese government and Chinese army won’t ever tolerate any resistance that may lead to the division of China. And now, particularly, we won’t tolerate attempts by Taiwanese independence separatists and outdoors forces to separate Taiwan from China.”
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The Australian defense minister told CNBC: “Our position on Taiwan is very clear. We don’t need any changes to the establishment within the Taiwan Strait… that is our position.”
“We do not think conflict within the region is inevitable… We’d like to create paths to peace and that is what we will do,” Marles added.
Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, added: “We proceed to uphold our ‘One China’ opinion and policy, which implies at the identical time that any change to the establishment is only acceptable if all sides agrees and in fact [is] calm. So that is the line we’re following – and we’ll be following in the long run.”
Relations between Beijing and Washington hit a latest low when US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August China’s warnings to the US to live as much as its commitment to the “One China” principle.