US-China relations

China declines US request for a meeting between defense chiefs

Reuters

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China declines US request for a meeting between defense chiefs

DEFENSE CHIEF. Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow, Russia, on April 16, 2023.

Sputnik/Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters

The prospect of a meeting is being closely watched given regional security tensions and trade disputes that have derailed plans for reengagement by the world's two largest economies

China has declined a request from the United States for a meeting between their defense chiefs at an annual security forum in Singapore this weekend, media reported on Monday, May 29, a new sign of strain between the powers.

“Overnight, the PRC informed the US that they have declined our early May invitation for Secretary (Lloyd) Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu in Singapore,” the Pentagon said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal, referring to China by the initials of its official name, the People’s Republic of China.

The Pentagon said it believed in open communication “to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict.”

Last week, White House spokesman John Kirby said there were discussions by the Defense Department to get talks going between Austin and his Chinese counterpart, who was named defense minister in March.

The prospect of a meeting was being closely watched given regional security tensions and trade disputes that have derailed plans for reengagement by the world’s two largest economies.

China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday blamed the United States for its decision, claiming that Washington was “well aware” of the reasons behind the lack of military communication.

“The US side should…immediately correct its wrong practices, show sincerity, and create the necessary atmosphere and conditions for dialogue and communication between the two militaries,” foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a briefing.

Last week, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao traded barbs on trade, investment and export policies in a meeting in Washington that marked the first US-China cabinet-level exchange in months.

Singapore-based security analyst Ian Storey said China’s decision to shun Austin did not bode well.

“At a time of rising US-China tensions, General Li’s refusal to meet his American counterpart will fray regional nerves even further,” Storey said.

Austin and Li will be in Singapore to attend the annual Shangri-la Dialogue that opens on Friday, June 2, an informal gathering of defense officials and analysts that also plays host to a string of side meetings.

Both are expected to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from around the region.

Li, who security scholars say is a veteran of the People’s Liberation Army modernization effort, has been under US sanctions since 2018 over the purchase of combat aircraft and equipment from Russia’s main arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.

Li is a member of the Central Military Commission, China’s top defense body that is commanded by President Xi Jinping. – Rappler.com

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