In a recent statement, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense declared that the United States is entirely responsible for the lack of a meeting between Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Laos. Both officials were present in Vientiane for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Plus defense ministers meetings.
The Pentagon had informed reporters that the Chinese side declined a meeting request by Secretary Austin. However, Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, emphasized that the United States cannot undermine China’s core interests regarding the Taiwan question while expecting to engage with the Chinese military as if nothing is amiss.
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China says U.S. responsible for failure of defense ministers' meeting
cgtn.com
