China has rejected an invitation from the United States to host a meeting in Singapore this week between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and its Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, the Pentagon announced Monday. a “worrying” attitude.
China “has informed the United States that it declines our invitation to Secretary Austin, which we made in early May, to meet with National Defense Minister Li Shangfu this week in Singapore,” the Pentagon spokesman said.Pat Ryder, in a statement.
“China’s worrying reluctance to participate in major military talks will not diminish our commitment to open lines of communication with the Chinese military,” the spokesman added.
Lloyd Austin will travel to Singapore this week to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue Conference on Asia-Pacific Defense and Security.
In late 2022, tensions escalated between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan and an alleged Chinese spy balloon being destroyed by a US plane while flying over the US.
Source: DN
