U.S. defense chief warns of China's aggression, calls for dialogue

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Saturday of China's coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific region while underscoring the need for dialogue to avoid conflict."The harassment that the Philippines has faced is dangerous, plain and simple," he said in a speech at the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue."We all share an interest in ensuring that the South China Sea remains free and open," he added, apparently referencing a series of aggressive Chinese moves against Philippine ships.But he also stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue between militaries, sa…READ FULL ARTICLE