The top U.S. general said Donald Trump was not intended to attack China

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WASHINGTON: Top U.S. General Mark Milley confirmed Tuesday that his calls to his Chinese counterpart in the turbulent months of the Donald Trump administration were intended to “widen” tensions and the former president had no intention of attacking in China. “I know, I’m sure, President Trump has no intention of attacking the Chinese,” the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff on the Senate armed services committee said. “My task at that time was to get worse. My message again was the same: stay calm and be resilient and grow. We will not attack you,” he said. The calls between Milley and his Chinese counterpart, General Li Zuocheng, were first revealed in the book “Peril” by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. The first call was on Oct. 30, four days before the U.S. presidential election, and the second was on Jan. 8, two days after the U.S. Capitol backed Trump in an effort to prevent certification of Democrat election victory. Joe Biden. Some Republican lawmakers have accused Milley of being beyond his authority and called on him to resign. In his testimony in the Senate, Milley defended his actions and said the calls contacted then secretaries of defense. “The specific purpose of the calls in October and January was created with regards to intelligence that led us to believe that the Chinese were worried about a U.S. attack,” Milley said. “These military-to-military communications at the highest level are critical to U.S. security to thwart military actions, manage the crisis, and prevent war between great powers armed with weapons. nuclear, “he said. “I have never attempted to change or influence the process, usurp authority, or insert myself into the chain of command,” Milley added. “I firmly believe in military civilian control as a fundamental principle that is essential to this Republic and I am committed to ensuring that the military remains transparent in domestic politics.” Milley also faced a phone call he had with Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, in which – according to “Peril” – he sought assurance that there was no risk that Trump would unilaterally launch a strike. nuclear. “I tried to reassure him that the nuclear launch was governed by a very specific and deliberate process,” Milley told the Senate committee. “He was concerned and made various personal references identifying the President,” Milley said. “I explained that the President is the sole authority on nuclear launches but he doesn’t launch them alone.” According to the book, Pelosi, referring to Trump, said: “You know he’s mad. He’s been mad for a long time” and Milley replied: “Madam Speaker, I agree with you on everything.” In his testimony Milley said he told Pelosi that he was “unqualified” to determine the mental health of a President.

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