Chinese and US defense ministers to meet at ASEAN DMM-Plus summit

• 

This week, the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) will take place, and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe is prepared to meet with his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, according to Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei.

"The Chinese side is proactive and open to exchanging views with the United States during the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting with Dialogue Partners, and the relevant agencies of the two sides are in contact and in coordination on this issue," the statement said.

Wei will participate in the ninth ADMM-Plus from November 20–24 in Cambodia, the defense ministry said on Saturday.

Biden: Rivalry with China must not turn to conflict, Taiwan key issue

Earlier, US President Joe Biden stated, via a White House statement on November 13, during the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh that Washington will "vigorously" compete with China and voice out the country's "violations of human rights" while also making sure that the rivalry does not escalate into a confrontation.

The statement read, "President Biden also commented on U.S-PRC relations, underscoring that the United States will compete vigorously with the PRC and speak out regarding the PRC’s human rights abuses while keeping lines of communication open and ensuring competition does not veer into conflict."

The US president again stressed the significance of preserving peace and stability on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

In addition, the statement said that Biden denounced North Korea's threats and Russia's activities in Ukraine.

Read more: Biden's ASEAN summit does not deliver on it "new era" slogan