Samuel Case, FISM News
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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, was pressed by Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday over his phone calls with China during the last days of the Trump administration.
FISM News reported at the time: According to excerpts from the book “Peril” by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, Milley “secretly called his Chinese military counterpart on two occasions – once on Oct. 30 2020 and once on Jan. 8 2021.” The excerpt also suggested Milley told officers to not allow the president to use nuclear codes unless he was part of the decision.
Milley defended himself before the committee, saying “at no time was I attempting to change or influence the process, usurp authority, or insert myself into the chain of command.” He said he did not believe Trump was going to attack the Chinese, and that the calls “were coordinated before and after with Secretary Esper and Acting Secretary Miller’s staffs and the interagency.”
Gen. Mark Milley on the secret phone calls with China: "I am specifically directed to communicate with the Chinese." pic.twitter.com/CDxTMIKSgP
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 28, 2021
Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) asked the general if he believed the Chinese government would grant the U.S. the same courtesy of a phone call if the Chinese were planning an attack.
“You really think the Chinese Communist Party, head of the PLA, would call and say ‘Hey General, FYI, we’re gonna get ready to invade Taiwan. I just thought I’d give you a heads-up.’ You honestly think that?” Sullivan asked.
I know I’d call him and ask him,” Milley answered, adding that “an invasion of Taiwan would be an obvious thing to pick up on.”