US Defense Secretary to visit China amid tensions.
(Baonghean.vn) - US Defense Secretary James Mattis will visit China next week, amid rising tensions between the two countries over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
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| US Defense Secretary James Mattis is set to visit China amid heightened tensions. Photo: AP |
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, Mattis announced on June 20 that he would visit Beijing and then Seoul next week. Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan confirmed that Defense Secretary Mattis “will be in the region next week,” adding that details of the visit would be released on June 22.
Relations between the US and China deteriorated last month when Washington withdrew its invitation to Beijing to participate in the 2018 Rim Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise, in protest against China's increased militarization in the South China Sea.
Furthermore, the Taiwan issue has also caused disagreements between the two countries. The head of the Pentagon once stated that the US remains committed to Taiwan, asserting that Washington will provide Taiwan with "the necessary defense equipment to maintain its defense."
On June 21st, a representative from the South Korean Ministry of Defense stated that during his visit to South Korea next week, Mattis will hold talks with his South Korean counterpart, Song Young-moo, to discuss the North Korean issue.