US-China Relations

Pentagon’s Austin Holds First Call With Chinese Counterpart Amid Rising Concerns Over Beijing–Moscow Partnership

Pentagon’s Austin Holds First Call With Chinese Counterpart Amid Rising Concerns Over Beijing–Moscow Partnership
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin responds to questions during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington on Sept.29, 2021. Rod Lamkey/Pool via Reuters
Andrew Thornebrooke
Andrew Thornebrooke
National Security Correspondent
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his counterpart in China for the first time on April 20, after more than a year in his position. The call came amid increasing global concern over the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) partnership with Russia and its continued threats against Taiwan.

Austin requested the meeting with his counterpart, Chinese National Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe, after months of failed attempts to speak with Gen. Xu Qiliang, who’s the CCP’s highest-ranking general, the Associated Press reported.

Andrew Thornebrooke
Andrew Thornebrooke
National Security Correspondent
Andrew Thornebrooke is a national security correspondent for The Epoch Times covering China-related issues with a focus on defense, military affairs, and national security. He holds a master's in military history from Norwich University.
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