China declines US request for a meeting between defence chiefs

  • China has declined a request by the U.S. for a meeting between their defence chiefs at an annual security forum in Singapore this weekend, media reported on 29 May, a new sign of strain between the powers.
  • Overnight, the PRC informed the U.S. that they have declined the early May invitation for Secretary Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defence Li Shangfu in Singapore, the Pentagon said in a statement
  • 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 Defence Department to get talks going between Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart, who was named defence minister in Mar 23.
  • The prospect of a meeting between them was being closely watched given regional security tensions and trade disputes that have derailed plans for re-engagement by the world’s two largest economies.

External Link : https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-rebuffs-us-request-meeting-between-defense-chiefs-wsj-2023-05-29/

30-May-2023