“The United States believes that open lines of communication with the People’s Republic of China are essential, especially between military and defense officials,” Austin said during the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore.
And the US Department of Defense announced last Monday that Beijing had refused to accept an invitation it had made to hold a meeting in Singapore between the two countries’ defense ministers, Lloyd Austin and Li Shang-fu.
“The People’s Republic of China has informed the United States that it is declining an invitation from us in early May for a meeting this week in Singapore between Secretary Austin and Chinese Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu,” a statement said. Pentagon spokesman, General Pat Ryder. .
“The People’s Republic of China’s unwillingness to engage in meaningful military talks is worrisome, but it will not weaken the Department of Defense’s commitment to seek to open lines of communication with the People’s Army. release,” Ryder said.
A senior Defense Ministry official described the refusal to accept the invitation as “the latest in a series of apologies” and said that in 2021 China “has rejected or failed to respond to more than 12 requests from the ministry”. of Defense for communication between the two directorates, and to several requests for communication between the two directorates. » Ongoing dialogue, and about ten requests for communication at work team level.
The US administration imposed sanctions on Li Shang Fu in 2018 over his purchase of Russian weapons, but the Pentagon says the case does not prevent Austin from officially dealing with him.
Earlier in 2022, Wei and Austin held another meeting in Cambodia, but tensions between Washington and Beijing have escalated this year due to several issues, including Taiwan, and the United States accusing China of launching a spy balloon. on its territory, which was shot down by an American fighter after flying over the country.
Austin and other U.S. officials are working to strengthen alliances and partnerships in Asia as part of efforts to counter China’s growing influence, as early indications indicate both sides seek to contain tensions between them.
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with senior Chinese foreign official Wang Yi in the Austrian capital earlier this month.
US President Joe Biden recently said that relations between Washington and Beijing are expected to “improve very soon”, after the Chinese ball helped stoke tensions.
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