U.S. and China defense chiefs lock horns on Taiwan at Asia security summit

, and Summarizely AI

June 1, 2024 . 12:09 AM

1 min read

U.S. and China defense chiefs lock horns on Taiwan at Asia security summit — Both sides, however, emphasized the need to keep military-to-military ties open as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had his first face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart since November 2022.

U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs met in Singapore on Friday to discuss military-to-military communications and tensions in Taiwan. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concern about Chinese military activity near Taiwan, while China's defense minister warned the U.S. not to interfere in its affairs with Taiwan. The meeting also addressed the South China Sea and conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. The Philippines' president is expected to discuss the country's position on the South China Sea at the Shangri-La Dialogue, which ends on Sunday. Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated that peace and stability could be maintained if China ceased its military drills around the island.

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