Milley Defends China Calls After Book Cites Alarm Over Trump
- Biden said he has ‘great confidence’ in Joint Chiefs chairman
- Vindman says Milley should have gone public with concerns
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President Joe Biden and the U.S. military defended calls to China made by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley in the waning months of the Trump administration -- including after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol -- as part of his duties.
“The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs regularly communicates with Chiefs of Defense across the world, including with China and Russia,” Colonel Dave Butler, the spokesman for the Joint Staff, said in a statement Wednesday. “These conversations remain vital to improving mutual understanding of U.S. national security interests, reducing tensions, providing clarity and avoiding unintended consequences or conflict.”