Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a visit to Indonesia on Sunday (July 24) that Chinese military aircraft and ships have intercepted U.S. and other allied forces in the Pacific region significantly over the past five years. Increased, the number of unsafe interactions also rose. "The message shows that China's air force and navy have become significantly more aggressive in this particular area," he said. Murray recently asked his subordinates to compile details on interactions between China and the United States and countries in the region.

China tries to expand its job email list influence Miley said China has had frictions with Japan, Canada, Australia, the Philippines and Vietnam. He said there was a "statistically significant increase" in interceptions (for China) in these countries, and a "proportionate increase" in the number of "unsafe interactions". He declined to provide specific figures for what he called "unsafe interactions." As Miley made the comments, the United States was working to strengthen relations with Pacific nations to check and balance China. China is trying to expand its presence and influence in the region, which the Joe Biden administration sees as its "progressing threat" and a major long-term security challenge for the United States.

Miley will attend next week's Indo-Pacific defense ministers' meeting in Sydney, Australia, to discuss China's escalating military development and the need to maintain a free, open and peaceful Pacific region. In a speech in Singapore last month, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also mentioned a "staggering increase" in the number of unsafe interceptions by PLA military aircraft and ships. Austin cites a PLA Navy ship that irradiated an Australian P-8 maritime patrol aircraft; a Canadian reconnaissance plane was recently intercepted by a Chinese military aircraft in international airspace. In addition, U.S. ships are often disturbed by Chinese military aircraft and ships while transiting.