(Washington Comprehensive News) There are new signs of ease of military relations between China and the United States. The U.S. military accepts China invitations and will send people to attend the Beijing Xiangshan Forum at the end of October.
Reuters on Thursday (October 12) quoted three people familiar with the matter reported that Beijing has invited the US Secretary of Defense Austin to participate in the Xiangshan Forum scheduled to be held from October 29th to 31st.However, the United States will not send Austin to participate in the event.
The Pentagon said in Reuters that the US Department of Defense welcomes the opportunity to contact the representatives of the Chinese PLA at the Xiangshan Forum to ensure that the two parties maintain an open and reliable crisis treatment channel.In the past, officials at the same level attended. "
The Pentagon did not explain who China has invited, nor does it indicate who the United States will send.
Affected by the epidemic, the Xiangshan Forum held a physical meeting in 2019.At that time, the United States sent the then Assistant Secretary of Defense Chad Sbragia to attend the meeting. He was the highest -level U.S. officials at the forum.
It is reported that Shi Chande will attend the Xiangshan Forum as a former official.He told Reuters that he received a updated invitation letter, which did not include the speech of Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu.
Shi Chande said that although China may foresee that Austin is unlikely to participate, they still invite invitations, indicating that China seek to establish a stable defense relationship with the United States as much as possible.
After visiting Taiwan in August last August, Beijing cut off most of the US military contact with the United States.Washington has always hoped to resume military exchanges with China to avoid misjudgment of the two armies.
