Bayan News – Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, announced on Wednesday (November 20) that Dong Jun, China’s Minister of Defense, had declined his request for a meeting.
According to U.S. media reports, the Secretary of Defense had sought to meet with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Laos.
Speaking to reporters, Austin said:
“This is unfortunate. It impacts the region because the region truly wants to see that we, two significant players and powers in the region, are engaging with each other.”
The U.S. Defense Secretary described his Chinese counterpart’s decision as regrettable but emphasized that it holds no implications for the future.
Austin did not comment on the reason behind Dong Jun’s refusal and added that only the Chinese side could explain their decision.
Typically, the defense ministers of China and the United States use the ASEAN defense meeting in Laos as an opportunity to discuss bilateral, regional, and global issues. However, this time, the meeting did not take place.
Potential Airstrike on Kyiv; U.S. Embassy in Ukraine Temporarily Closed
