US Defense Secretary Austin and Chinese Military Leader Exchange Handshake.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese military leader Li Shangfu shook hands at a dinner in Singapore, highlighting the US's efforts to maintain relations with China amidst growing tension between the two superpowers. The handshake comes as the US has begun repairing a relationship that grew acrimonious after a Chinese spy balloon was spotted earlier this year in US air space. The two leaders did not have a substantive exchange, but the Pentagon emphasized US efforts to maintain open lines of military-to-military communication with China.