On Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Chinese counterpart for the first time since he took his post as Pentagon chief at the beginning of the Biden administration.
Austin held a call with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe after months of trying and failing to speak with Xu Qiliang, the vice-chairman of China’s Central Military Commission. Xu is said to have more influence, but Wei is considered to be Austin’s counterpart, and that is the protocol Beijing wants to stick with.
During the call, Wei reiterated Beijing’s stance on Taiwan, warning that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would “resolutely defend the national sovereign security and territorial integrity.” The call came after a delegation of US lawmakers led by Sen. Lindsey Graham visited Taiwan, angering Beijing, and leading to the PLA conducting military exercises in the region.
“The Taiwan issue, if not handled properly, will have a subversive impact on the relationship between the two countries,” Wei said, according to the Chinese Defense Ministry.
The Pentagon released a brief readout of the call that said it was a follow-up to a recent conversation between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was held on March 18. “Secretary Austin and General Wei discussed US-PRC defense relations, regional security issues, and Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” the Pentagon said.
Discussing the Ukraine war, Wei told Austin to stop using the issue to “slander, frame, threaten and pressure China.” Wei also said the US should stop military provocations in waters near China’s coast and called for the two countries to have better relations.
The now have air, ship and ground launched carrier killar missiles so go ahead try them.
who is “they”?
The Chinese no one else,has ballistic missile that can hit moving targets
Now, now M.T. D0n’t be badgering them. They are already in one dangerous pickle, better let it cool down so someone can safely eat it…
Those who seek peace through free trade are no doubt worried by Biden’s unbridled use of sanctions.
Russia has defeated his attack on the rubble. China and India are developing ways to blindfold US financial surveillance. Private interests are finding ways to deceive US financial surveillance. All of this is being done because Biden is the only player willing to upset the apple cart.
But that could change in an instant if any major power decides to call his bluff. Trade is a 2-way street. Biden’s sanctions against Russia have already hurt our own economy. We have as much, if not more, to lose than China if he want to take them on as well.
The sanctions will only accelerate the moving away from the Dollar based Reserve System.
It seems to be the conversation between Austin and Wei was a one-way chat and Wei stick it to Austin…! New Sheriff in Town…!
I doubt the Chinese actually agreed that the Ukraine war is “unprovoked.”
Their take was the US ought to stop provoking China, in many of the same ways.