U.S. and China Conclude Military Talks, Stress Importance of Open Communication
In a bid to mend strained ties, the United States and China wrapped up two days of military talks in Washington on Tuesday, marking a significant step in the resumption of military-to-military engagement.
The discussions, part of the 17th round of talks, highlighted the ongoing challenges in U.S.-China relations, spanning issues from the future of Taiwan to territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Tensions between the two nations escalated last February when the U.S. downed an alleged Chinese spy balloon. The incident added to the already complex web of disagreements, including Washington's support for democratically ruled Taiwan and territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The talks were initiated following an agreement between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping late last year to resume military ties, which were severed by Beijing after the-House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August 2022.
Michael Chase, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, met with China's Major General Song Yanchao, deputy director of the central military commission office for international military cooperation, during the recent talks.
The Pentagon emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication to prevent potential conflicts.
General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also held a virtual meeting last month with his Chinese counterpart, General Liu Zhenli, underscoring the significance of ongoing communication between the two militaries.
China's defense ministry, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed its willingness to develop healthy and stable military-to-military relations with the U.S. based on equality and respect. It urged the U.S. to reduce military deployment and provocative actions in the South China Sea while calling for a halt to support for such actions by unspecified countries.
China also reiterated its stance on Taiwan, urging the U.S. to abide by the one-China principle and cease arming Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. Taiwan is currently gearing up for presidential and parliamentary polls amidst heightened tensions with China.
U.S. officials, while acknowledging the restoration of some military communications, have cautioned that building a truly functional dialogue between the two sides may take time.
As both nations navigate their differences, the importance of communication to prevent miscalculations and conflicts remains a key focus in these diplomatic efforts.
