US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has called on China to engage in talks to avoid unintended clashes between the two countries' militaries.

Austin delivered a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday. The meeting discusses security issues in Asia.

Amid China's escalating maritime activities in the South China Sea, Austin said the United States will continue to work with its allies and partners to uphold the freedom of navigation and overflight.

On the Taiwan issue, he warned that conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating. He said that deterrence is strong today, and it is his country's job to keep it that way.

Austin said, "The United States does not seek a new Cold War. And competition must not spill over into conflict."

He added that open lines of communication with China are essential, as the more the two countries talk, the more they can avoid the "misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict."

Ahead of the dialogue, China declined a US request for a meeting between Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu.

The two exchanged greetings at a dinner the previous day. But the US Defense Department says they did not have a "substantive exchange."