Top US General Says China Has Become More Aggressive Toward US Over Past 5 Years

“China is increasingly aggressive in its rhetoric, but also in its activity,” Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley told a group of reporters traveling with him in Asia on Friday, according to a Department of Defense transcript. Defense of his remarks.

“The volume, the number of Chinese interceptions at sea and in the air has increased significantly in five years,” Milley said, without giving further details on the figure.

Milley’s strong comments underscore the Biden administration’s efforts to make the fight against China a key strategic priority, and they come as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears to be preparing to lead a congressional delegation to Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. territory.

President Joe Biden has hinted that the US military believes a potential trip by Pelosi and other lawmakers would pose security risks. The Pentagon declined to say whether officials briefed the California Democrat directly, but officials say concerns include China’s creation of a no-fly zone or increased dangerous interceptions of ships and planes. Americans and allies in the Pacific region.

CNN reported last week that Milley had ordered a comprehensive review of US military interactions with Chinese forces over the past five years, as concerns over Beijing’s assertive behavior in the Indo-Pacific region grew, according to three officials. defense.

In launching the review, Milley seeks to gain a detailed understanding of all interactions between the two militaries, especially those that might be deemed “unsafe” or “unprofessional” due to Chinese aircraft or ships operating too close to the military. US military resources.

Officials told CNN the goal was to get a solid look at any changes in Chinese military activity patterns. The interactions between the two armies are so sensitive that incidents are often not made public. For example, in June, a US C-130 transport plane operated by US special forces encountered a Chinese aircraft, but the Pentagon has yet to publicly acknowledge the incident.

In one of the most serious recent incidents, the Australian government said in February that a Chinese warship allegedly used a laser to ‘illuminate’ an Australian Air Force plane in what Canberra said of “serious security incident”.

“Acts like this have the potential to put lives at risk,” the Australian Defense Force said in a statement at the time, adding that it strongly condemned “unprofessional and dangerous military conduct.” Pilots targeted by laser attacks in the past have reported disorienting flashes, pain, spasms and blotches in their vision and even temporary blindness.

Last month, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also called out Beijing, with the secretary criticizing a series of coercive, aggressive and dangerous actions that threaten stability around Asia and promising that the United States would stand alongside their partners to resist any pressure.

“Indo-Pacific nations should not face political intimidation, economic coercion or harassment from maritime militias,” Austin said in a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the premier advocacy conference from Asia.

China is adamant: its military is defensive.

“China’s national defense development is aimed at meeting its legitimate security needs and contributing to the growth of global peaceful forces,” said the 2019 country’s defense white paper. “China will never threaten any another country nor seek any sphere of influence.”

The United States, for its part, appears to be stepping up its operations in the South China Sea.

Earlier this month, a US Navy warship challenged Chinese claims to disputed islands in the South China Sea, the US 7th Fleet said in a statement – the second such operation this week.

CNN’s Brad Lendon contributed reporting.