Psaki: The U.S. is concerned about China’s military modernization

The United States is watching China’s military modernization with concern and sees it as a threat to regional stability, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

At her daily briefing, she commented on a statement by U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, who compared China’s test of hypersonic weapons to the 1957 launch of the Soviet Union’s first artificial satellite.

“I’ve seen, of course, General Milley’s comments. I think he was conveying concerns, which we all share, about China’s military modernization efforts. They continue to work on capabilities that increase tensions in the region, and we continue to have concerns about that,” Psaki said.

Earlier, the Financial Times reported that China tested a hypersonic missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons in August, and it “took U.S. intelligence by surprise.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that China tested a spacecraft and not a hypersonic missile.