China Refuses Austin Meeting Request Over Arms Sale to Taiwan

Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun declined to meet with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin due to the recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, China’s MND said Thursday. Austin reached out to meet with his Chinese counterpart while at the Association of South East Asian Defense Ministers meeting and ASEAN defense ministers’ meeting-plus summits held Wednesday through Thursday in Vientiane, Laos. During a Wednesday press conference, Austin said he regretted Dong’s refusal to meet. “The PRC’s decision is a setback for the whole region. As I’ve said consistently, the right time to meet is any time,” Austin said, according