Pentagon, Chinese Military Officials Hold ‘Frank’ Talks, Weeks After AUKUS Pact

U.S. and Chinese military officials this week held “frank, in-depth” talks on a variety of defense issues, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday. The virtual meetings were held on Tuesday and Wednesday between Michael Chase, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, and Chinese Maj. Gen. Huang Xueping, Department of Defense Spokesperson Lt. Col. Martin Meiners said in a statement. “During the talks, the two sides held a frank, in-depth, and open discussion on a range of issues affecting the U.S.-PRC defense relationship,” the statement said, using the acronym for the People’s Republic of China. Beijing has denounced the alliance,…