BEIJING: Beijing has responded to US criticism that it was irresponsible to cancel defense consultations with Washington, claiming that the US is trying to shift the blame.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Chinese Defense Ministry claimed that China has every right to halt defense talks with the US as Washington escalated tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

In retaliation for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier this month, China on Friday announced the cancellation of talks. The Sino-US Military Maritime Consultation Agreement as well as the Sino-US theater commanders' talks and defense policy coordination talks have all been postponed.

Top Chinese military officials did not return calls from their US counterparts last week, Politico reported on Friday, adding that three people were aware of the situation.

According to officials and experts cited in the report, the ghosting of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Mark Milley, was a hasty and irresponsible decision that increased the risk of an escalation of an already tense situation.

The Chinese Defense Ministry denied the claim but said the two armies needed honesty to establish communication.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement, "The United States is provoking the crisis, but it also claims to have controlled the crisis. In addition, it is making a justification for concealing its wrongdoings and blaming others. 

The legitimate defense of national sovereignty and security is fully justified and justified, and China's justified countermeasures are a necessary warning to the United States and Taiwan's provocation.

Tensions between China and the US escalated as mainland China conducted a three-day military exercise besieging Taiwan. The lack of communication during the crisis, according to White House spokesman John Kirby, is "an irresponsible act".

However, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed that the US had made three mistakes regarding Taiwan.

America is deliberately undermining Taiwan Strait peace. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang made the remarks during his visit to Bangladesh on Sunday. "It's using a strategy to create a problem first, then using it to realize its own strategic end."

There are indications that the US plans to use Pelosi's visit as an opportunity to expand its military presence in the region, calling on all sides to remain extremely vigilant and mount strong resistance.

Wang affirmed that Pelosi's visit was a violation of Chinese sovereignty and supported the island's pro-independence forces.
He claimed that the Speaker of the US House of Representatives had turned against the Chinese people by openly supporting and collaborating with separatist forces.

Analysts warned that postponing defense talks would increase the possibility of an unintentional military conflict between China and the US.

Concerns about conflict have been fueled by sometimes close military encounters between China and the US in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

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