Tuesday, October 16, 2018

U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis Plays Down Tensions With Beijing

U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis attends a news conference in Skopje, Macedonia September 17, 2018. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

Bloomberg: The U.S. ‘Obviously’ Doesn’t Want to Contain China, Mattis Says

* Defense Secretary says they ‘step on each other’s toes’
* Washington ‘highly concerned’ over South China Sea features

Secretary of Defense James Mattis played down tensions with Beijing, saying the U.S. was “not out to contain China” and was cooperating whenever possible, but that there would be times they would “step on each other’s toes.”

“Obviously, we’re not out to contain China. We’d have taken an altogether different stance had that been considered. It has not been considered,” he told reporters Monday on a plane en route to Vietnam.

“We seek a relationship with China that’s grounded in fairness, reciprocity and respect for sovereignty,” he said.

He said Washington is cooperating with China on issues including North Korea and the United Nations.

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WNU Editor: U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis may be playing down the tensions, but they are there (see below).

More News On U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis Playing Down Tensions With Beijing

US Defence Secretary James Mattis hits out at ‘predatory’ Chinese behaviour -- SCMP
US alarmed by China's 'predatory' practices: Mattis -- AFP
US alarmed by China's 'predatory' practices: James Mattis -- Economic Times
US Says Continued Militarisation Of South China Sea Highly Concerning -- NDTV

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