US Defense Secretary Austin Urges Open Communication with China to Avoid Escalation

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concern over the lack of communication with China and warned that it could lead to an incident that could quickly spiral out of control. Austin said that China's provocative intercepts of US and allied aircraft in international airspace and waterways were concerning. He also expressed his willingness to engage with China's leadership. The comments come as Chinese President Xi Jinping told national security officials to prepare for "stormy seas" amid perceived internal and external threats. Relations between the two countries have been increasingly strained in recent months.