US-China defence relations strain further after Taiwan missile deal

China has declined a meeting with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin during the ASEAN Defenсe Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Laos this week, further straining the already challenging relationship between the two nations' defence officials.

Austin had requested a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, as part of ongoing efforts to sustain open military communication between the US and China, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

However, Beijing rejected the proposal, citing the recent US arms sale to Taiwan as its justification. A senior US defence official, speaking to reporters travelling with Austin, confirmed the refusal.

The rejection follows the US approval three weeks ago of a $2 billion arms package for Taiwan, which includes advanced surface-to-air missiles — a first for the self-governed island. Beijing condemned the deal, vowing to take "resolute countermeasures" to protect its sovereignty.

This latest move comes just days after US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Peru for what National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described as a "candid, constructive, [and] wide-ranging" discussion. Despite this dialogue, tensions remain high, and Sullivan clarified that Biden would not act as an intermediary between Beijing and the incoming US administration.

China has a history of using the cancellation of high-level meetings and communication channels as a diplomatic signal of dissatisfaction with US policies. For example, Beijing severed multiple communication lines, including military and climate discussions, following then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2022 visit to Taiwan.

The rejection in Laos is notable as it comes after a year of gradual progress in military-to-military communications between the two countries. However, it highlights persistent issues in the US-China relationship, particularly concerning Taiwan.

Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949 when Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek retreated to the island following their defeat in the Chinese Civil War. The island retains the flag and symbols of the Republic of China, which once governed mainland China before the Communist Party's rise to power. Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province and considers reunification a core national objective.

By Tamilla Hasanova