Pentagon Chief Says China Declined Meeting During His Asia Visit.

CABINET officers; MILITARY assistance; TRUMP, Donald, 1946-; CONTRACTS; SECURITY classification (Government documents); GRAND strategy (Political science)

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin revealed that his Chinese counterpart declined to meet with him during his visit to Laos, highlighting ongoing tensions between the US and China. The lack of a meeting at a gathering of military leaders in Vientiane is seen as a missed opportunity for dialogue on security issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea. Austin emphasized the importance of communication between the two countries for regional stability, despite China's decision not to meet. The article also mentions Austin's visit to other countries in the region, including the Philippines, where a new defense information sharing agreement was signed, potentially straining relations with Beijing. [Extracted from the article]

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