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☆ China rebuffs meeting with US defense secretary
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Haley Britzky | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —China rejected a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a conference in southeast Asia this week, marking the latest turn in a tumultuous relationship between the two countries’ defense leaders. But China did not accept the offer, pointing to a recent Taiwan arms sale as their rationale, a senior defense official told reporters traveling with Austin in Laos. The Chinese rejection of the meeting in Laos comes just days after US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Peru for their final meeting under Biden’s administration. China has often used the cancellation of meetings and lines of communication as a way of registering displeasure with the United States. After then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022, China cut off a number of lines of communication with the US, including on military issues and climate.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Dong Jun, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Trump, Nancy Pelosi Organizations: CNN, ASEAN Defense, ’, National Locations: China, Asia, Laos, People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Austin, Peru, United States

File photo: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin looks on as he attends the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin delivered perhaps his strongest remarks to date on Saturday over Israel's need to protect civilians in Gaza, calling them the center of gravity in Israel's war with Hamas and warning over the risks of their radicalization. "So I have repeatedly made clear to Israel's leaders that protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral responsibility and strategic imperative." The United States has rushed military assistance to Israel, including air defenses and other munitions. "The United States will remain Israel's closest friend in the world.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Willy Kurniawan, Lloyd Austin, he's, Austin, Israel, Austin's, Phil Stewart, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Defense, ASEAN Defense Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, . Defense, Reagan National Defense, West Bank, Islamic State, United, Palestinian, Pentagon, U.S, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Gaza, Austin, Simi Valley , California, Israel, United States, U.S, Iran

☆ US Secretary of Defense Austin: US will 'stand with Ukraine'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin looks on as he attends the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Nov 20 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyiv on Monday for a visit, he said on the X social media platform. "I'm here today to deliver an important message – the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine in their fight for freedom against Russia’s aggression, both now and into the future." The visit comes amid increasing division over Ukraine aid in the U.S. legislature. A joint Ukraine-U.S. military industry conference in Washington is due to take place next month.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Willy Kurniawan, Max Hunder, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Defense, ASEAN Defense Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Kyiv, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Washington

☆ Top Biden administration officials head to Asia to show China remains a top priority amid Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —The Biden administration’s senior-most national security officials are traveling this week to the Indo-Pacific, signaling that the administration’s China strategy remains a priority as it grapples with an increasingly volatile Middle East. Blinken and Austin will both travel to India for a 2+2 Dialogue with their counterparts. Meanwhile, talks between US and Chinese officials stalled until this summer when Blinken met with senior Chinese officials in Beijing. Asked by CNN on Monday if Austin would be meeting with any PRC officials during his travel, Pentagon spokesman Brig. The senior officials’ travel also comes as the White House is preparing for a meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month in San Francisco.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, CQ Brown, Brown, Austin, Blinken, —, Nancy Pelosi’s, Ely Ratner, John Aquilino, “, ”, Li Shangfu, Pat Ryder, Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, ” Kritenbrink, Blinken —, Israel —, ’, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, “ It’s, Karine Jean, Pierre said, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden administration’s, Defense, Joint Chiefs, Staff, West Bank, Security, Relations, US Air Force, US, East, Military, Pacific Command, ASEAN Defense, China’s, CNN, Pentagon, East Asian, Pacific Affairs, State Department, Hamas, Israel Locations: China, East, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Japan, Taiwan, Chinese, South China, Beijing, Pacific, Iranian, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, San Francisco

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