US defence chief Jim Mattis set to visit China in spring, Pentagon spokeswoman says
Mattis likely to ask Beijing to step up efforts towards achieving a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis plans to pay his first official visit to China in the spring to seek further cooperation from Beijing amid rising challenges from North Korea’s nuclear threat, according to the Pentagon.
Chinese military and nuclear analysts said Mattis’ trip would help both countries narrow their differences on North Korea, with Beijing still hoping that Washington will not launch a military attack against Pyongyang.
US Defence Department spokeswoman Dana White told Japan’s Kyodo news agency that the trip – the first visit to China by a Pentagon chief in four years – was planned for the spring.
During the visit, Mattis and senior Chinese officials are expected to discuss measures to rein in Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes, as well as to expand military-to-military exchanges between Washington and Beijing.
In possible meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and top defence officials, Mattis is likely to ask Beijing to step up efforts towards achieving a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue.