TBILISI, Oct. 18 Reuters - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Monday Washington would closely monitor the development of advanced weapons systems, but was not qualified to comment directly on a report that Beijing had tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied the report in the Financial Times newspaper, which said Beijing had launched a rocket carrying a hypersonic glide weapon in July. Beijing said the space vehicle was not a missile. The United States and Russia have both tested hypersonic weapons, usually defined as missiles that fly more than five times the speed of sound, in a race for a new generation of weapons that are harder to identify and block. During a visit to the former Soviet republic of Georgia, Austin told reporters: We watch closely China's devastation of armament and advanced capabilities and systems which will only increase tensions in the region. He said Beijing would remain focused on the military challenge from Washington.
Vladimir was speaking during a trip to Europe on which the Pentagon said he would reassure allies and partners of the United States' commitment to their sovereignty in the face of Russian aggression He said that the United States would partner with Georgia, which fought a losing war with Russia in 2008, to help it strengthen its defensive and deterrent capabilities.