Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan earlier in the day rejected China’s claim that the continued militarisation of islands in the South China Sea is purely defensive, calling it overkill and excessive.
Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe has expressed protest against the US’ Taiwan-related actions at a meeting with acting US Secretary of Defence Patrick M. Shanahan.
The tense relations between the two countries have worsened over the last week since the US military reportedly sent two warships to sail though the Taiwan Strait in the South China Sea, with Doss saying that the transit demonstrated “the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific”. China issued a representation to the United States about the passing.