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Top U.S. general Milley stands by decision to call China
CGTN

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01:44

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and top U.S. military officer, defended calls with his Chinese counterpart in the waning days of the Trump presidency, saying that he was aiming to ease tensions and concerns with Beijing and not to “usurp authority.”

Milley was grilled during a Senate hearing on Tuesday over the fallout for the American operations and withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.

The news of Milley’s call with his Chinese counterpart Gen. Li Zuocheng, has led some Republicans in the U.S. Congress to call for his resignation.

In his statement, Milley relayed the discussion he had with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, over concerns of former President Trump’s ability to launch nuclear weapons.

Milley also explained the military intelligence that led to the initial calls with his Chinese counterpart.

China said a conflict between the two countries will hurt both sides.

“What I can tell you is that as permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world’s two largest economies, China and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.

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