China conflict 'not unavoidable but needs more dialogue,' says US Secretary of Defence Austin

US. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore June 1, 2024. - REUTERS

MANILA/SHENZHEN (dpa): US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday stressed the need to maintain dialogue with China and its neighbours, to prevent current tensions in the region from spiralling out of control.

"Every conversation is not going to be a happy conversation. But it is important that we continue to talk to each other," Austin told the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore.