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US defence chief Lloyd Austin has yet to speak with Chinese counterpart, Pentagon says
- Beijing has reportedly rejected requests for talks with vice-chairman of Central Military Commission and wants Austin to meet defence minister
- But a Pentagon spokesman has again said the meeting should be with General Xu Qiliang
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US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has yet to speak with his Chinese counterpart, a Pentagon spokesman said, as the two sides wrangle over protocol.
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At a time of rising tensions, the Pentagon has reportedly sought to open lines of communication, making several attempts to set up high-level military talks that have been rebuffed by Beijing.
Asked on Wednesday whether there had been any progress, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed that, since he took office in January, Austin had not had any conversations with a counterpart in China.
“I would not say that the secretary’s waiting to engage his Chinese counterpart. There has been no discussion at his level with a counterpart in China, and when that makes the most sense, you know, we’ll pursue that, but I have no discussion to announce or to anticipate or to readout,” Kirby said.
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Beijing has reportedly rejected US requests for talks between Austin and the vice-chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, General Xu Qiliang. China is said to want the meeting to instead be held with the official Beijing sees as Austin’s counterpart – Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe, who is seen by the US as less powerful and influential than Xu.
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