Over the past five years, the Chinese military has become more aggressive and dangerous.
The number of intercepts by Chinese aircraft and ships in the Pacific region with the U.S. and other partner forces has increased over that time.
The Chinese military, in the air and at sea, have become significantly more and noticeably more aggressive in this particular region.
As the U.S. redoubles efforts to strengthen its relationships with Pacific nations as a counterbalance to China, his comments came. China is considered the primary long-term security challenge by the Biden administration.
The China threat is the focus of Milley's trip. The need to maintain a free, open and peaceful Pacific will be one of the topics of a meeting of the chiefs of defense in Australia this coming week.
The possibility of China invading Taiwan has been raised by US military officials. China is trying to intimidate Taiwan into unification with the communist mainland.
Beijing wants to move to the island by the year 2027, according to U.S military officials. The U.S. is Taiwan's main ally. The U.S. law requires the government to treat threats to the island as grave concern, but it's not clear if the military will defend Taiwan if attacked by China.
The joint chiefs of staff chairman of China told Milley that Beijing had no room for compromise on Taiwan issues. He told Milley that the U.S. needs to cease military cooperation with Taiwan in order to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.
The establishment of a Chinese naval base in the South Pacific is a concern for the U.S. and other countries. The Solomon Islands have been told not to host a Chinese military base.
China is attempting to do outreach for their own purposes. Milley told reporters traveling with him that China is not doing it just for the sake of it. They are trying to increase their influence. That could have consequences that are not good for our allies and partners in the region.
Milley's visit to Indonesia is the first by a joint chiefs chairman from the U.S. In recent months, there have been high-profile visits by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
A campaign to build a stronger network of alliances in China's backyard and counter China's growing influence has been launched by the Biden administration.
Milley wouldn't give specific numbers of unsafe Chinese interactions with the U.S. Austin referred to an increase in unsafe intercepts by the People's Liberation Army in a speech in Singapore last month.
Austin pointed to a February incident where a navy ship directed a laser at an aircraft. There have been many other ones. A Chinese fighter intercepts a Canada-controlled plane in international airspace. During transits in the South China Sea, U.S. ships are frequently confronted by Chinese aircraft and vessels.
Milley said there have been Chinese intercepts with several countries. He said that they all have seen an increase in intercepts and an increase in unsafe incidents.
Pacific nations want the U.S. military to engage in the region, according to Gen. Milley.
Milley said that they want to work with them to develop interoperability and modernize their militaries.
Indonesia is a key US partner in the region.
When Milley arrived at Andika's military headquarters, he was greeted with a huge billboard with his photo and name on it, a military parade and a large television screen.
At the end of the visit, Andika told reporters that Indonesia has found China to be more assertive and aggressive with naval vessels in relation to terrirotiral disputes with his country.
The sale of fighter jets to Indonesia was approved by the U.S. earlier this year. In December of last year, Blinken signed agreements for enhanced naval exercises between the US and Indonesia.
China accused the US of trying to build an Asian NATO. Austin denied that claim during a speech. He doesn't want a new Cold War, an Asian NATO or a region split into hostile blocs.
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