Li Shangfu during the defense conference Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Vincent Thian / AP
The US-China relationship
China refuses meeting - settles for "stiff handshake"
On Saturday, around the same time as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu to open up the communication channel with the US, a Chinese ship came close to colliding with a US destroyer transiting the Taiwan Strait.
The incident has not directly contributed to easing the tension between the two superpowers, which overshadowed all discussions during this weekend's defense conference in Singapore, writes the Washington Post. Li has not wanted to extend beyond "a stiff handshake" with Austin, the newspaper writes.
Politico notes that the European countries did not have such a tough uphill climb. Among other things, German and British defense ministers have sat in a meeting with Li. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell writes on Twitter that the Union looks forward to "continuing to develop relations between the EU and China based on trust and respect for international law".
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu. Vincent Thian / AP
Chinese minister warns US with song about guns
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu accuses the US of seeking confrontation between the countries. Among other things through the Americans' support for Taiwan and the country's military groups and alliances in the region, reports Bloomberg.
Li says China will always defend its interests, especially when it comes to Taiwan.
- Just like the words in a well-known Chinese song, when friends visit us, we welcome them with wine.
When jackals and wolves come, we meet them with guns, Li said during a speech in Singapore.
The statement comes after ships from the US and Canada passed through the Taiwan Strait.
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