SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The United States will no longer "tiptoe" around Chinese behaviour in Asia, with stability in the region threatened on issues ranging from the South China Sea to Taiwan, acting U.S. Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Saturday. Shanahan said it was in Beijing's interests to have a constructive relationship with the United States. "The way he laid out the facts and the United States' position in a firm way, but very upfront, impressed me tremendously," Duckworth added. TRADE WARShanahan said that he did not see the current trade dispute between China and the United States as a trade war, but rather just part of trade negotiations. The United States has accused Huawei of espionage, breaching trade sanctions against Iran and intellectual property theft.

Source: The Star June 01, 2019 00:54 UTC