Chinese, US militaries blame each other for PLA ‘no-show’ at virtual meeting

Name: Japan-US hold joint military drills including cyberwarfare training as concerns about China grow
Uploaded: 2020-12-17T12:06:22.000Z
Duration: 2 min 14 s
Description: Japan-US hold joint military drills including cyberwarfare training as concerns about China grow

US says People’s Liberation Army did not turn up for the two sides’ virtual conference, part of a mechanism to ensure sea and air safety

But China says it proposed an agenda in November only for the Americans to try to proceed without agreeing one

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Increased US military activity in the South China Sea has angered Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE

Laura Zhouin Beijing

Published: 8:06pm, 17 Dec 2020Updated: 9:06pm, 17 Dec 2020

China and the United States have traded accusations over the failure to hold a maritime security meeting this week, in the latest sign of heightened tensions between the rival powers in the military sphere.

The Chinese military failed to show up for a virtual meeting planned with the US defence ministry, the chief of the US Indo-Pacific Command said on Thursday, but a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy spokesman said the Americans had tried to press ahead without the two sides agreeing on an agenda.

The three-day Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) work group and flag officer session, scheduled from Monday, was part of a mechanism to strengthen maritime safety, improve operational air and sea safety, and reduce risk between the two militaries.

But the PLA did not attend the virtual meeting that was agreed upon by the two militaries, according to the Indo-Pacific Command, which is acting as the US defence secretary’s lead agent for the dialogue.

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Japan-US hold joint military drills including cyberwarfare training as concerns about China grow

“[China’s] refusal to show up to MMCA is another example [showing] that China does not honour its agreements, and this should serve as a reminder to all nations as they pursue agreements with China going forward,” Admiral Phil Davidson said in a statement on Thursday.

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Chinese, US militaries blame each other for PLA ‘no-show’ at virtual meeting

US says People’s Liberation Army did not turn up for the two sides’ virtual conference, part of a mechanism to ensure sea and air safety But China says it proposed an agenda in November only for the Americans to try to proceed without agreeing one

US says People’s Liberation Army did not turn up for the two sides’ virtual conference, part of a mechanism to ensure sea and air safety

But China says it proposed an agenda in November only for the Americans to try to proceed without agreeing one