Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense Photo: Website of Ministry of National Defense

No meeting was held between the Chinese and US defense ministers during the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus, and the responsibility lies entirely with the US side, China's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian said on Thursday when commenting on US Defense Department officials' statement that China had refused a meeting between the defense ministers due to US arms sales to the island of Taiwan.
 
The US cannot undermine China's core interests on the Taiwan question while engaging in exchanges with the Chinese military as if nothing has happened. The US should immediately correct its mistakes, truly respect China's core interests, and work to create favorable conditions for high-level military exchanges between the two countries, Wu said.

Global Times