China declines US request for defense chiefs meeting in Singapore

China has rejected a proposal for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to meet with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu at the Shangri-La Dialogue Security Forum in Singapore this week. The US had extended an invitation in early May, but China declined, citing US sanctions imposed on Chinese officials, institutions, and companies. The US has imposed a range of sanctions on China in recent years for a variety of reasons, including alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and restrictions on political freedoms in Hong Kong. Despite China's refusal, the US remains committed to seeking open lines of communication with the People's Liberation Army at multiple levels.