US, China Defense Chiefs Tout Progress Despite Taiwan Friction
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meets General Wei Fenghe
- Discussions were ‘candid, positive and constructive,’ Wei says
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US and Chinese defense officials said they planned further talks after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his counterpart sparred over Taiwan and other regional security issues for almost an hour.
Both sides emerged from the first in-person encounter between Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on Friday in Singapore citing plans for additional discussions. A Chinese military spokesman described the meeting as a start toward resuming a normal dialogue, although a senior US defense official said no date for follow-up meetings had been set.