Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave an impassioned defense of women in combat on Tuesday following Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defense, arguing that the United States "should not have women in combat roles.

A meeting of defense leaders in Laos took place on Thursday, and included Southeast Asian defense chiefs, China, the United States and other partner nations. Despite China and the US both being in Laos for the meeting,

China pointed to a recent U.S. sale of weapons to Taiwan as the rationale behind the decision to decline the meeting.

China's defense minister declined a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a meeting of defense leaders in Laos, a move the Pentagon chief said on