China declines meeting with US defence chief: Pentagon
The US had suggested that the two men meet on the sidelines of this week’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
According to the Pentagon, China has rejected a US invitation to a meeting between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu in Singapore.
“Overnight, the People’s Republic of China informed the US that they declined our early May invitation to Secretary Austin to meet with the People’s Republic of China’s Minister of National Defense, Li Shangfu, in Singapore this week. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement Monday, referring to the country by the initials of its official name, the People’s Republic of China.
“The worrying reluctance of the People’s Republic of China to engage in meaningful military-to-military discussions will not abate [the defence department’s] commitment to seeking open lines of communication with the People’s Liberation Army,” Ryder added.
Last week, White House spokesman John Kirby said talks are underway to spark talks between Austin and his Chinese counterpart, who was named secretary of defense in March.
The prospect of a meeting between them was closely watched given heightened tensions in the region and the increasingly thorny relationship between Washington and Beijing on issues from Taiwan to trade and human rights.
Singapore-based security analyst Ian Storey said China’s decision does not bode well.
“At a time of rising tensions between the US and China, General Li’s refusal to meet with his US counterpart will further test regional nerves,” Storey told Reuters news agency.
Austin and Li will both be in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual safety summit that kicks off Friday. He met Li’s predecessor Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the event last year.
Chinese officials have yet to confirm the decision, but tensions have skyrocketed this year, especially over an alleged Chinese spy balloon shot down by a US warplane after entering US airspace.
Li has also been subject to US sanctions since 2018 for purchasing fighter jets and equipment from Russia’s top arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.
Li, who arrives in Singapore on Wednesday, also sits on the Central Military Commission, China’s top defense body headed by President Xi Jinping.
Citing the Defense Ministry, Chinese state media said he would give a speech on China’s new security initiative and hold some bilateral meetings with “relevant” countries.
Austin first travels to Japan where he will hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Yasukazu Hamada before visiting US troops stationed in the country.
He will then fly to Singapore, where he will address the summit on Saturday morning and “meet with key leaders to advance US defense partnerships across the region in support of our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, anchored in the ASEAN centrality, the Pentagon said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an economic and political coalition of 10 member states in Southeast Asia.
After Singapore, Austin will travel to India and then France where he will participate in events commemorating the 79th anniversary of D-Day.