US Pentagon chief speaks for 1st time to Chinese counterpart

By ROBERT BURNS
AP National Security Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has spoken with his Chinese counterpart for the first time since becoming Pentagon chief more than a year ago. The Wednesday conversation broke a communications impasse American officials saw as increasingly dangerous amid concern Beijing might provide military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Pentagon says Austin and Gen. Wei Fenge discussed U.S.-Chinese defense relations, regional security issues and “Russia’s unprovoked invasion.” Austin calls China the U.S. military’s leading long-term challenge but has been forced to focus heavily on Russia. Austin requested the telephone conversation with Wei after failed efforts to speak with Gen. Xu Qiliang, deputy chairman of the Communist Party’s Central Military Commission.