US Defense Secretary Mark Esper (Photo: Reuters)

The meeting occurred amid heightened tensions between the two military superpowers in the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam.)

According to Wu, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper denied a media report that the US is planning to attack Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea using an MQ-9 drone if the US presidential election was not looking favourable for President Donald Trump. Esper said the US “has no intention of provoking a military crisis with the Chinese,” according to Wu.

China urges the US to keep its promise to avoid provoking China’s military, Wu said, adding that China will not hesitate to counter attack if provoked by an attack at sea.