American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says Washington would not stand for any “coercion and bullying” of its allies and partners by China, while assuring Beijing that the United States remains committed to maintaining the status quo on Taiwan and would prefer dialogue over conflict. Speaking Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an annual forum bringing together top defense officials, diplomats and leaders, Austin lobbied for support for Washington’s vision of a “free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific” as the best course to counter increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region. A senior Chinese official accused Austin of making false accusations against China and says the U.S. is “deceiving and exploiting” Asia-Pacific nations to advance its own self-interests.