China and Singapore laid the groundwork Friday for a hotline between the two countries. That would establish a high-level communications link between Beijing and a close American partner in Asia. At a time when Chinese tensions with Washington are high and dialogue has stalled.
Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu, a general in China’s People’s Liberation Army who was named minister in March, signed a memorandum of understanding with his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen. To work toward establishing a secure telephone link “for high-level communications between our defense leaders,” according to a statement released by Singapore.
“Such high-level open lines of communications are important for strengthening mutual understanding and trust,” the statement said. Even without giving a timeline for when it would be established.Li is on his first visit to Singapore as China defence minister. And is broadly discussing global and regional security issues with a range of officials.
Singapore said both countries’ defense establishments “interact regularly through bilateral and multilateral exercises”. That his visit underscores “long-standing, warm and friendly” relations.
At the same time, Singapore is a close military and economic partner of the US. The agreement to establish the direct phone link comes as communications between Washington and Beijing are strained.
While in Singapore, Li is expected to address a meeting of defence officials. Along with diplomats and country leaders on Sunday. But declined a request from Washington to meet on the sidelines with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Who will give a speech at the same Shangri-La Dialogue security conference on Saturday.
China’s Frustration with US Over Taiwan Support
Among many issues, China has been irritated by American support for Taiwan. A self-governing democracy that it claims as its own territory. In addition to the shooting down of what the U.S. called a Chinese spy balloon, and sanctions directly targeting Li.
Those sanctions are related to Washington’s broad package of measures against Russia. But predate its invasion of Ukraine and were imposed in 2018 over Li’s involvement in China’s purchase of combat aircraft and anti-aircraft missiles from Moscow.
The sanctions, which broadly prevent Li from doing business in the United States, do not prevent him from holding official talks, the U.S. has said.
