US Defense Secretary: "No Pursuit of Asian NATO or Anti-China Alliance"

Quad, Aukus, Five Eyes, and ROK-US-Japan Cooperation... Emphasizing China Containment Through Alliances
Secretary Austin Says China's Military Drills Targeting Taiwan "Look Like a Rehearsal"

[Asia Economy International Department Reporter] The head of the U.S. Department of Defense stated that the United States does not seek to establish an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or an anti-China alliance.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on the 4th (local time) during his keynote speech at the 'Reagan National Defense Forum' held in Simi Valley, California, "We do not ask countries to choose between the United States and China."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Secretary Austin emphasized cooperation with allies, saying, "We are working together to promote a free, stable, and open international system." Referring to his visits to countries in the Indo-Pacific region, including South Korea, he said, "In every conversation with our partners, I heard the same message repeatedly. They want the United States to continue playing a stabilizing role in the Indo-Pacific, and we truly intend to do so."

He further explained that the U.S. role will be strengthened through various mechanisms such as joint exercises, enhanced roles of European allies, the Quad, AUKUS, Five Eyes, and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

Secretary Austin also expressed concerns about China's military buildup. He said, "We are facing a formidable challenge," and described China as "increasingly assertive and authoritarian, posing a challenge to the United States." However, he added, "We do not seek confrontation or conflict. Nor do we seek a new Cold War," emphasizing the importance of establishing communication channels between the U.S. and China.

Secretary Austin's speech on this day was interpreted as drawing a line that the U.S. is not immediately aiming to establish an Asian NATO or an anti-China alliance, thereby reducing the possibility of conflict with China while stressing the importance of counterbalancing China through strengthened cooperation with allies.

President Biden, in his first congressional address after taking office in April, mentioned, "I told Chinese President Xi Jinping that the United States will maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific, just as it does with NATO in Europe," sparking interest in whether he was considering a long-term Asian NATO.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In a Q&A session following his speech, Secretary Austin responded to the situation where China is conducting military demonstrations against Taiwan, including deploying aerial refueling aircraft, by saying, "I don't want to speculate, but it looks quite like a rehearsal." This suggests that China’s aerial military demonstrations are seen as exercises preparing for actual operations such as an invasion.

Secretary Austin added, "We are committed to helping Taiwan maintain and develop its self-defense capabilities," and said, "No one wants to see such a conflict. We will do everything to prevent it."

Meanwhile, the joint statement of the South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), which Secretary Austin attended, explicitly mentioned the sensitive Taiwan issue for the first time, and the U.S. Department of Defense has announced the results of the 'Global Force Posture Review' focused on countering China.