SINGAPORE -- From hosting the inaugural four-way defense ministers meeting with Japan, Australia and the Philippines, to launching a real-time intelligence-sharing mechanism with Tokyo and Seoul, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made strides in defense cooperation with allies during the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
But those gains were overshadowed by a lack of progress in reestablishing open lines of communication with China. The closest engagement with the visitors from Beijing was a five-second handshake with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu before dinner on Friday. The two almost had no choice but to shake hands, being seated at the same table.
