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Chinese embassy blasts US defence chief for ‘attack and smear’ in Singapore lecture
- Lloyd Austin’s comments in the island nation defied the one-China policy and Three Communiques that underpin Sino-US ties, embassy says
- The lengthy Facebook missive also says Washington should stop ‘acting like a preacher’ and approach ties in Asia in a humble manner
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China’s embassy in Singapore on Thursday slammed US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin for his comments during a lecture in the city state this week on Taiwan, the South China Sea and Uygur Muslims that it deemed an “attack and smear” on Beijing.
In Tuesday’s closely watched Fullerton Lecture, organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the former four-star general devoted a substantial amount of time to addressing Washington’s relations with Beijing.
He said while the United States sought “constructive, stable” ties with China, it “will not flinch” if its interests were challenged.
Austin, however, couched the somewhat conciliatory comments by listing various concerns including Beijing’s hardened Taiwan policy; its assertions in the South China Sea; and the treatment of Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang.
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In a statement on its website, the Chinese embassy in Singapore said Austin “not only interfered in China’s internal affairs by referring to matters relating to Taiwan and Xinjiang, but also played up the so-called China threat in an attempt to drive a wedge between China and its neighbours”.
“These remarks distorted facts and created falsehoods, only to serve the US geopolitical strategy,” it said.
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The embassy said Austin’s assertion that Washington’s current stance on Taiwan was in line with the one-China policy was “deceptive and arrogant”.
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