The US is on high alert after China's recent military exercises to increase pressure on Taiwan and surround the island. Meanwhile, tensions between China and Taiwan have reached a peak. In such a situation, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is going to meet his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong at the ASH Defense Conference in Singapore next week. The Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Defense Department, announced this on Friday. The two leaders are going to meet for the first time after talking on the phone in April.
According to the Pentagon, Austin underwent kidney treatment at a military hospital on Friday. Because earlier Austin had undergone treatment for prostate cancer in December, after which he had kidney problems. However, the treatment was successful and Austin is back home and resuming work. A Pentagon official said that he does not expect any change in his official schedule at this time.
There will be a meeting with defense ministers of more than 40 countries
Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong will meet at the Defense Ministers' Meeting in Singapore next month. This meeting is an annual gathering of defense ministers and government officials from more than 40 countries. US President Joe Biden will host Chinese President Xi Jinping in California in November. The two governments will then increase contact with each other.