Top U.S. general Milley staunchly defends calls with China

Testifying before a Senate panel on Afghanistan, Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he called Chinese General Li Zuocheng of the People's Liberation Army on Oct. 30, 2020 and again on Jan. 8.

Milley said he sought to assure Li the United States was stable and was not going to attack following U.S. intelligence indicating Chinese concerns of a possible U.S. strike.

The general said his calls were scheduled through the appropriate channels, and in every case properly reported to the White House.