US Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he will call out China in a speech Saturday over its militarisation of manmade islands in the South China Sea and broader use of coercion to advance its national interests.
He said his broader message to the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference will emphasize what the US has done to expand its commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, against the backdrop of China's growing influence and massive military buildup.
Speaking to reporters just before he stepped into a meeting Friday with Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe, Shanahan said he wants to foster a better military relationship with Beijing, but can't ignore the communist giant's military development on the manmade outposts.
"They argue that it's defensive, it looks like it's a bit overkill," said Shanahan.
"Surface-to-air missiles, long runways, I mean, seems excessive."
In a statement after the meeting, Army Lt. Col. Joe Buccino, a spokesman for Shanahan, said the 20-minute session was "constructive and productive."
He said the two men discussed "ways to build military-to-military relations that reduce the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation between our nations."
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