China Declines Meeting with US Defence Chief 

China has declined a US invitation for a meeting in Singapore between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu. <br />Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder says the People’s Republic of China informed the US that they have declined our early May invitation for Secretary Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu in Singapore this week. <br />White House spokesman John Kirby earlier said there were discussions underway to initiate talks between Austin and his Chinese counterpart, who was named defence minister in March.<br /><br />This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/4166630/advertisement">https://www.spreaker.com/show/4166630/advertisement</a>