U.S. Military Chief Austin Stresses China Talks as Beijing Rebuffs Offer

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin has described as “essential” his call for dialogue between Washington and Beijing to avoid conflict, but China has rebuked the gesture in the face of persisting U.S. sanctions. “The United States believes that open lines of communication with the People’s Republic of China are essential — especially between our defense and military leaders,” Austin proclaimed on Saturday in remarks at the Shangri-La Defense Summit in Singapore. “The more that we talk, the more that we can avoid the misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict.” Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu shook…