Last week, Pentagon officials held talks with the Chinese military for the first time below President Biden
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Michael Chase, China’s deputy deputy secretary of defense, met with Major General Huang Xueping, deputy director of the Office of International Military Cooperation of the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China, according to a reading of the Pentagon from the August 19 meeting.
In the statement, defense spokesman Lt. Col. Martin Meiners said Chase “strengthened the Department of Defense’s priorities for defense relations between the U.S. and the PRC, with a focus on prevention and management. of crisis and risks “, referring to the People’s Republic of China, the country’s official name.
Chase “affirmed the American vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and the commitment of the United States to maintain common principles shared by allies and partners. The two sides agreed on the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the two military “.
Reuters first reported the meeting on Friday.
Officials told the press that the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Lloyd Austin Night Defense and National Security: Terror in Kabul as explosions kill and kill hundreds of Hawley, Blackburn calls on Biden to dismiss McCarthy and calls for House to return and vote to delay Afghanistan’s withdrawal MORE he has not yet spoken to his Chinese counterpart, in part because it was debated who exactly was his Austin counterpart.
The Hill has contacted the White House and the Pentagon to comment.
The move comes as tensions with China escalate across everything from human rights to China’s actions in the South China Sea.
Recently, Vice President Harris took a week-long trip to Southeast Asia. During it stop in Singapore, rebuked China for continuing to “coerce” and “intimidate” other parts of the region.
“Beijing’s actions continue to undermine rule-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations. The United States is on the side of our allies and partners in the face of these threats. ” Harris said.
President Biden has made the fight against China’s influence a key part of its foreign policy, with the president seeking to bring allies together to help counter that influence.
Update: 22:40