Chinese defense minister rejects to meet his US counterpart in Singapore

The  US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, has expressed “regret” that his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu refused to meet with him this week in Singapore.

“I think that’s unfortunate,” Austin said of the Chinese snub. The former Army general said that it is important for countries with significant capabilities to be able to talk to each other so as to manage crises and “prevent things from spiraling out of control unnecessarily.”

He said that Chinese actions in the international airspace and waters of the region, including intercepts of US and allies’ aircraft, are “very concerning.”

This comes after a Chinese fighter jet intercepted an American spy plane over the South China Sea last week.

On Wednesday, China’s Defense Ministry has said that the United States is “fully responsible” for current difficulties in bilateral military exchanges, and emphasized that the engagement between the two militaries has not been suspended.

E.M