China Refuses Meeting with Pentagon Chief Over Taiwan Arms Sales

Chinese military officials reportedly snubbed US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Laos, refusing to meet with him. Austin had sought a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, but Beijing declined, citing the United States’ ongoing arms support to Taiwan. This refusal came shortly after the Biden administration approved a $2 billion arms sale to Taiwan, including advanced surface-to-air missiles, which China views as a violation of the “One China” policy.

Beijing maintains that Taiwan is an integral part of China, and adherence to the “One China” principle is a condition for diplomatic relations with other countries. While the United States officially recognizes this principle and does not acknowledge Taiwan’s independence, it continues to provide military assistance to the island, a situation that remains a highly sensitive issue in Sino-American relations.