US, China defense officials speak for first time under Biden

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Chinese Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe on Wednesday, the first call between the two officials since the start of President Joe Biden’s administration more than a year ago. Relations between China and the United States have been tense, with the world’s two largest economies clashing over everything from Taiwan and China’s human rights record to its military activity in the South China Sea. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the two talked about relations between the countries and “regional security issues, and Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.” Despite the tensions and heated…