U.S., China defence ministers meet for second time this yr By Reuters

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – The Chinese language and U.S. defence ministers met for his or her second face-to-face talks this yr on Tuesday, a U.S. official stated, in a gathering that was not anticipated to result in main breakthroughs however may contact on the significance of disaster communication and their opposing views on Taiwan.

Whereas U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin met Chinese language Protection Minister Basic Wei Fenghe in Singapore in June, that is their first assembly since a go to to Taiwan by U.S. Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August enraged China, which regards the island as its territory. The assembly is happening on the sidelines of an ASEAN defence ministers’ gathering in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

A U.S. official, talking on situation of anonymity, stated the assembly between the 2 began at 10am native time (0300 GMT).

Tuesday’s assembly follows a three-hour assembly between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese language President Xi Jinping final week on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia, aimed toward stopping strained ties from spilling into a brand new Chilly Battle.

Regardless of tensions between the USA and China, U.S. army officers have lengthy sought to take care of open strains of communication with their Chinese language counterparts to mitigate the chance of potential flare-ups or take care of any accidents.

After Austin and Wei’s assembly in June, the Pentagon chief stated his talks together with his Chinese language counterpart have been an essential step in efforts to develop these technique of communication.

Relations between China and the USA have been tense, with friction between the world’s two largest economies over all the pieces from Taiwan and China’s human rights report to its army exercise within the South China Sea.

Pelosi’s Taiwan journey in early August infuriated China, which noticed it as a U.S. try to intervene in its inside affairs. China subsequently launched army drills close to the island.

America has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan however is certain by legislation to offer the island with the means to defend itself.