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China’s military has become “notoriously more aggressive” in the IndoPacific region, the general said. Markus Milley, the leading figure in the US military, during a visit to Indonesia. Over the past five years in that region, the official points out, there has been a significant increase in the number of crossings by allied forces using Chinese military aircraft and ships.
“My message is that China’s military in the air and at sea has become noticeably, significantly more aggressive, particularly in this region,” General Milley said on his way to a meeting with Indonesian military officials at the same time as Chinese President Joko Widodo is preparing to fly to Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In addition to making public statements, Milley also spoke to journalists who had traveled with him and shared some thoughts on fears that China could invade Taiwan, according to the Associated Press.
“This is an area where China is trying to reach other areas and that’s important because don’t just do this for benign reasons‘ said General Mark Milley. “They are trying to expand their influence in this region, and that has potential consequences that are not particularly favorable for our allies and partners in the region,” he concluded.
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