WASHINGTON, 03 December 2021, (TON): US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that China’s pursuit of hypersonic weapons “increases tensions in the region” and vowed the United States would maintain its capability to deter potential threats posed by China.

Austin made the remarks in Seoul following annual security talks with his South Korean counterpart that focused on challenges from China and North Korea and other issues facing the allies.

Austin said referring to China’s latest hypersonic weapons test in July “we have concerns about the military capabilities that the PRC continues to pursue. Again, the pursuit of those capabilities increases tensions in the region.”

Austin said “it just underscores why we consider the PRC to be our pacing challenge.”

We’ll continue to maintain the capabilities to defend and deter against a range of potential threats from the PRC to ourselves and to our allies.

China’s growing military muscle and its drive to end American predominance in Asia has triggered unease in Washington.

China’s efforts to accelerate its military capabilities were highlighted by its July test of a hypersonic weapon capable of partially orbiting the Earth before re-entering the atmosphere and gliding on a manoeuvrable path to its target.