By Teaganne Finn -
NBC News
WASHINGTON - The United States' top general, Mark A. Milley, on Tuesday defended the calls he made to his Chinese counterpart in the final months of Donald Trump's presidency, alleging that other government officials were aware of these communications and that
they had no intention of "usurping authority
.
"
In both calls to General Li Zuocheng, which have placed Milley in the center of a storm, he guaranteed that the United States would suddenly go to war or attack China
.
The highest ranking US general, Mark A. Milley, during his appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee to discuss his calls to Chinese officials during the end of Donald Trump's presidency.Patrick Semansky / AP
"The calls on October 30 and January 8 were coordinated before and after with the staff of Secretary [of Defense Mark] Esper and Acting Secretary [of Defense Chris] Miller and with the interagency," Milley told the Committee on Defense. Senate Armed Services.
"
My task at that time was to de-escalate
" the tension that existed, said the general.
Milley justified that he made the calls after members of the intelligence service indicated their concern that the Chinese government believed that a US attack was possible.
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"
At no time did I try to change or influence the process
, usurp authority or get into the chain of command, but I am expected to give my advice and ensure that the president is fully informed," the general explained.
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The first call was made a few days before the presidential election
on November 3, 2020, under the direction of then-Pentagon chief Mark Esper, Milley said.
The second was on January 8,
two days after a mob - mostly Trump supporters - stormed the Capitol
in an attempt to prevent Congress from confirming Joe Biden's presidential victory.
That communication was made at the behest of Chinese officials and was coordinated with the office of then-Secretary Chris Miller.
On the other hand, the general told the Committee's senators that he knew that Trump did not plan to attack China.
"I know, I am sure, that President Trump had no intention of attacking the Chinese and it
is my responsibility to convey the orders and the presidential intention
," he reiterated.
