US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said it was ‘unfortunate’ his Chinese counterpart had declined to meet him at a security forum in Singapore, because they needed to communicate to stop dangerous encounters between military aircraft
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reviews the guard of honour at the Japanese Defense Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, 01 June 2023. After Japan, Secretary of Defense Austin will travel to Singapore, India and France. FRANCK ROBICHON/Pool via REUTERS
"I am concerned about at some point having an incident that could very quickly spiral out of control," he added.Austin stopped in Tokyo on his way to the annual, which starts Friday. Chinese Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu will also attend and is expected to meet with Hamada there. Tokyo and Beijing in March established a "hotline" to improve communication and defuse military friction.
"North Korea's dangerous and destabilising nuclear and missile programs threaten peace and stability in the region," Austin said.
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