US Invites China's Defense Minister to Singapore, But China Declines Invitation

The US believes that China's "unwillingness to engage in meaningful military-to-military discussions will not diminish (the Defense Department's) commitment to seeking open lines of communication with the People's Liberation Army." This is the latest in a series of excuses from China for declining or failing to respond to US requests for engagements since 2021.

Li was sanctioned by the US government in 2018 for buying Russian weapons, but the US says this does not prevent Austin from conducting official business with him.