U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is stressing the importance of communication between Washington's and Beijing's defense authorities, saying it's unfortunate his Chinese counterpart refused to meet him at an annual security conference in Singapore.
By MARI YAMAGUCHIU.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, left, and Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada shake hands at the end of a joint press conference after their meeting at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo Thursday, June 1, 2023. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, left, and Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada shake hands at the end of a joint press conference after their meeting at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo Thursday, June 1, 2023.
TOKYO — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed the importance of communication during a stopover Thursday in Tokyo, calling it unfortunate that his Chinese counterpart is refusing to meet him at an upcoming annual security conference in Singapore, which both men are attending. On the way to the annual Shangri-La Dialogue Asian security summit this weekend, Austin held talks with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada. Noting China’s increasingly assertive military actions in international airspace and waterways in the region, he told a joint news conference in Tokyo, “The provocative intercepts of our aircraft and also our allies’ aircraft, that’s very concerning, and we would hope that they would alter their action.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chinese Defense Minister Rejects Meeting with U.S. Defense SecretaryChina rejected a request from Austin to meet his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum.
Read more »
China’s defense chief turns down meeting with Austin during forum in SingaporeChina’s defense chief has turned down a face-to-face meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when they attend the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore next weekend.
Read more »
China declines invitation to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd AustinChina rejected an invitation for its defense minister to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of an annual defense summit in Singapore.
Read more »
US Defense Secretary Austin says China's meeting snub unfortunateU.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said it was 'unfortunate' his Chinese counterpart had declined to meet him at a security forum in Singapore, because they needed to communicate to stop dangerous encounters between military aircraft.
Read more »
A lot of bills targeted Austin this legislative session. Here's what passed and what failed.Austin fended off legislative volleys targeting Project Connect, trees, Austin Energy and land-use this session.
Read more »
Beijing says no meeting between US, Chinese defense chiefs at Singapore gatheringProspects for a renewed military dialogue between China and the U.S. remain dim, with Beijing saying their defense chiefs will not hold a bilateral meeting while both are attending a weekend security conference in Singapore.
Read more »