Tuesday's video call was the first time Austin has spoken with Adm. Dong Jun, and it's the first time he's spoken at length with any Chinese military leader since November 2022.

They come after Austin's Chinese counterpart — Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu — declined a meeting at the summit, although the two did briefly shake hands at a dinner on Friday.

TASS/. Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe expressed a decisive protest to US authorities for shipment of weapons to Taiwan during his meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Friday ...