US seeks meeting with China defense minister after being spurned

[beijingwalker]

US seeks meeting with China defense minister after being spurned​

• Peter Martin - Bloomberg News
• May 4, 2023

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is seeking a meeting between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart in Singapore next month, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Biden administration tries again to restart military contacts despite China’s earlier refusal.

The people with knowledge of the U.S. outreach to Defense Minister Li Shangfu asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. The Defense Department and the Chinese embassy didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

If Beijing accepts, the meeting between Austin and Li would represent the most senior in-person meeting between the two sides since an alleged Chinese spy balloon transited the U.S. in February and sent relations to a new low. China has rebuffed multiple requests for Austin or Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to speak by phone with their Chinese counterparts since then.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the U.S. to and from Central America in recent weeks only added to strains.

The proposed Austin-Li meeting would take place on the sidelines of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security forum in Singapore. Austin met Li’s predecessor Wei Fenghe at the same event last year.

President Joe Biden has repeatedly stressed the need to place “guardrails” around the increasingly combative relationship, but China says those efforts aren’t genuine. A long-anticipated call between Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping has yet to take place.

Any meeting would be awkward for both sides. The U.S. slapped sanctions on Li in 2018 for allegedly aiding in the transfer of Su-35 combat aircraft and S-400 missile system equipment from Russian arms seller Rosoboronexport to China.

It also puts China in a difficult position. Beijing has sought to use access to its top leaders as leverage, insisting that the U.S. must adopt friendlier policies first. But refusing to meet in Singapore would risk irking other countries in a region that are pressing both sides to ease tensions.

US Seeks Meeting With China Defense Minister After Being Spurned

The Pentagon is seeking a meeting between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart in Singapore next month, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Biden administration tries again to restart military contacts despite China’s earlier refusal.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[beijingwalker]

U.S. Ambassador to China calls for resumption of high-level talks​

 

[OIO]

Obviously, China is telling other countries that China will not compromise with US imperialism.

 

[etylo]

It's good that China has suspended all high-level contacts and communications with the US. Americans don't keep their promises, they say one thing in the meeting and then stab you in the back right after. China has learned the lesson that it's only going to hurt China after each meeting or call with high-level US officials such as US president and secretaries.

 

[大汉奸柳传志]

Banner has been raised, like-minded nations have been called together, it would be stupid to think China will abandon them and go back to the table

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

China does not have diplomatic relation with the US considering the US supports Taiwan secession.

 

[Stranagor]

And then there were none.

Very funny.

 

[etylo]

And then there were none.

Very funny.


View attachment 952666

Lol, US amb. to Japan is concerned with Chinese official employment to the minute, Chinese defense minister has just appeared on TV today. He should concern the relation between Japan and US.