“If anyone provokes arbitrarily, it will inevitably be met with a firm counterstrike by the Chinese people,” Li warned.
And for Gen. Milley, all of China’s acts have been closely crossing the red line.
“This is an area in which China is trying to do outreach for their own purposes. And again, this is concerning because China is not doing it just for benign reasons,” Milley said.
“They’re trying to expand their influence throughout the region. And that has potential consequences that are not necessarily favorable to our allies and partners in the region.”
US Trusts Gen. Milley as the Backbone of Military Affairs
Though Gen. Milley has been outright calling China a “dangerous” global power disrupting peace, the US administration still rely on him. The four-star Army officer with multiple combat tours in his 39 years of service is known for his charming banter and bluntness. He was promoted during former President Donald Trump’s administration and was praised by the former president for his keen eye for things.
“I could see in his eyes when I talk about the cost of those bombs,” the president said. “He’s good at throwing them, but he’s also good at pricing them.”
What makes Gen. Milley a good general is ultimately his experience on the ground. He’s coming in with perspective from “someone who has been under fire multiple times,” as reports note. He used to be a brigade commander in Iraq and made his way up through open sewage in Abu Ghraib and was promoted to Colonel. He was known to have a decisive methodology.
Though Gen. Milley has proven his portfolio in battle, he is also good at finding common ground with different types of people. This is what made him really powerful and influential in his role as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Gen. Milley continues to be a stable backbone for the military and the administration even after Trump. With President Joe Biden, the general is highly regarded, especially with liaising with China and the complex negotiations that go with it.
“…all calls from the chairman to his counterparts, including those reported, are staffed, coordinated and communicated with the Department of Defense and the interagency,” said Gen. Milley’s spokesperson Col. Dave Butler.
“General Milley continues to act and advise within his authority in the lawful tradition of civilian control of the military and his oath to the Constitution.”
This year, Gen. Milley also requested to review the US-China agreement, and the White House backed his decision. Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said there was nothing wrong with his request. Additionally, President Biden reaffirms Democrats and Republicans on the general’s capacity to handle negotiations with care, saying he has “great confidence in General Milley.”
“The president has complete confidence in his leadership, his patriotism and his fidelity to our Constitution,” Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said during a briefing on Wednesday.
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