In a significant development, the top U.S. military officer, U.S. Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, held a virtual meeting with his Chinese counterpart, General Liu Zhenli of China's People's Liberation Army, marking the first such conversation in over a year. The video teleconference addressed "a number of global and regional security issues," according to a statement from General Brown's office.
The meeting follows an agreement between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping to resume military-to-military ties, which had been severed by Beijing after then-House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited self-ruled Taiwan in August 2022. The restoration of ties is viewed as a crucial step in preventing misunderstandings and miscalculations between the two militaries.
General Brown highlighted the importance of working together to responsibly manage competition, avoid miscalculations, and maintain open and direct lines of communication. He reiterated the significance of substantive dialogue to reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings. The communication between the U.S. and Chinese militaries is seen as crucial to preventing potential conflicts from escalating.
General Liu highlighted that for a healthy, stable, and sustainable military-to-military relationship, the U.S. must have a "correct understanding of China." The Chinese defense ministry released a statement quoting Liu's assertion that the U.S. should respect China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests in the South China Sea. Liu urged the U.S. to be prudent in words and actions, taking concrete steps to safeguard regional peace, stability, and the overall situation of China-U.S. relations.
While the restoration of military communications is a positive step, U.S. officials caution that achieving functional dialogue between the two sides could take time. China's stance on defense relations has been characterized by ambiguity, with some analysts suggesting that Beijing seeks to constrain perceived U.S. military provocations in the region.
Tensions persist between the U.S. and China on various fronts, including issues related to Taiwan, territorial claims in the South China Sea, and broader diplomatic relations. The virtual meeting between the top military officials is seen as a diplomatic effort to address and navigate these challenges.
