US says talks with China will continue despite friction over Taiwan

The Pentagon said the US-China dialogue will continue after Beijing rejected its request for a meeting between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Laos. 

The rebuff was due to the recent potential sale of three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAM) and 123 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles-Extended Range to Taiwan, according to a senior US defense official.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said on Tuesday (Nov. 19) the Department of Defense did try for a meeting but was unable to make it happen. However, Singh said that “conversations and meetings with PRC leaders are happening at the very highest levels of government,” pointing to the talks between Biden and Xi Jinping (習近平) at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru. 

According to the White House, Biden reiterated Washington’s commitment to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The president emphasized freedom of navigation and commerce in the South China Sea, adding that international law must be respected. The two leaders pledged to manage bilateral ties in the last months of the Biden administration.