Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he hoped the U.S. would step in if China attacks their shores.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin assured top security officials on Saturday that there is no evidence of an imminent war with China, according to the New York Post. This reassurance comes amidst rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. Austin emphasized the need to establish open dialogue with his Chinese counterpart, following his meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun. This meeting marked the first high-level defense talks since a communication breakdown occurred after former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022.
Despite the resumed dialogue, no progress was made on the contentious Taiwan issue, with China maintaining its stance on potentially using force to reclaim Taiwan. Additionally, China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea continue to strain relations with other regional countries, notably the Philippines. While Austin did not reveal specific details from his discussions with Jun, he highlighted that the key takeaway was the resumption of communication between the two defense officials.
