On the 21st (local time), CNN cited a Department of Defense official reporting that China rejected the proposed US-China defense minister talks suggested by the US side. This was in response to the US decision three weeks ago to sell $1.988 billion (approximately 2.76 trillion KRW) worth of weapons to Taiwan.
According to the report, China recently declined the defense minister talks proposed by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Earlier, Secretary Austin had envisioned the defense minister talks as part of efforts to maintain military communication with China during the ASEAN defense ministers' meeting held in Laos.
This refusal to meet occurred just days after US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Peru for their last meeting during the Biden administration. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the meeting as "frank, constructive, and comprehensive."
China has often used the suspension of meetings and communication channels as a way to express dissatisfaction with the US. When former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022, China responded by cutting several communication lines with the US.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
