China has once again shown its flair for playing hard-to-get, as its defense minister snubbed a meeting request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during the ASEAN-Plus defense ministers’ gathering in Laos. This diplomatic cold shoulder comes at a time when the world desperately wants to see the two biggest players in the room have an adult conversation, but alas, China seems to have other plans.
Austin, visibly unimpressed, described the move as “unfortunate.” And he’s not wrong. When two prominent nations refuse to sit at the same table, the effects are felt across the entire region. Austin pointed out that the region is keen on watching the U.S. and China, two significant powers, engage in dialogue.
“It’s something they chose to do at this point in time, and only they can explain why they didn’t take advantage of a good opportunity,” Austin told reporters, his tone a mix of exasperation and disappointment.
This isn’t the first time China has played sly. Earlier this year, Austin managed to catch up with China’s defense minister, Dong Jun, on the sidelines of a Singapore conference. The discussions were hardly, with disagreements over Taiwan and other contentious issues dominating the talks. Yet, Austin stressed the importance of keeping military-to-military communications open a sentiment that seems to have been lost on Beijing.
Let’s not forget, this isn’t just about two nations refusing to talk. This diplomatic issue comes in the wake of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s bold vow to work with the U.S. on issues ranging from trade to cybercrime to the ever-volatile South China Sea. But actions, as they say, speak louder than words, and China’s actions here scream disinterest in mending fences, at least for now.
