WASHINGTON – US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will reassure the United States’ Asian allies that Washington is committed to helping the region counter China, even as experts say the administration is focused on Israel’s war in Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to meet with his Chinese counterpart to cool tensions between the US and China.
The US has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine since the invasion, and the US Congress appropriated US$61 billion more in April. It has also continued to arm Israel, and the same Bill provides US$26 billion in additional support for that country. But some officials say Beijing has become more emboldened in recent years, last week launching “punishment” drills around Taiwan, sending heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks after Lai Ching-te was inaugurated as Taiwan’s president.
Austin last met in person with a Chinese defence minister in 2022, though he spoke with Dong in 2024 by phone.In a brief visit to Cambodia, Austin will look to reverse some of the gains Beijing has made in that country.
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