It was stated on Tuesday that US and Chinese officials met at the Pentagon this week to discuss US-PRC ties, military communication, and Indo-Pacific operational safety. Chinese Deputy Director of the Central Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation Maj. Gen. Song Yanchao and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China Dr. Michael Chase discussed the matter. Chinese officials restarted these annual talks after a two-year gap. Beijing had the final in-person meeting in January 2020.
US-China Talks: Pentagon Affirms Regularity Amid PRC’s 2022 Postponement
A senior defense official said that the PRC terminated the talks in 2022 after then-Speaker Pelosi visited Taiwan, highlighting their regular nature. Both parties expected annual high-level conversations notwithstanding the postponement.
Tuesday’s Pentagon release highlighted Chase’s affirmation of the US commitment to fly, sail, and operate lawfully under international law. Chase said that the US would uphold the “One China” policy during the negotiations. Military-to-military exchanges, including conversations between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and new Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, were discussed at the meeting.
To address long-standing worries about China’s reliability in crisis scenarios, the defense official stressed crisis communication and management. In previous engagements, the PRC focused on crisis prevention.
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Post-November Positivity Spurs Resumption of US-China Talks at Pentagon
After a positive November meeting between China’s Ji Xinping and President Joe Biden, these negotiations began. The Pentagon confirmed its willingness to explore future defense-military interactions with PRC colleagues.
US and Chinese officials discussed bilateral relations, military communication, and Indo-Pacific operating safety at the Pentagon. After a two-year gap, these talks began again, addressing both regular and strategic issues between the two nations.
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