After nearly 18 months of silence, United States Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun recently engaged in talks via videoconference. The Pentagon revealed that the discussions covered a range of topics including US-China defense relations and regional as well as global security issues.
This dialogue marks the first formal communication between the two nations’ defense heads since November 2022 when Austin conversed with the then Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe in Cambodia. Dong Jun assumed office as China’s Defence Minister in December. Notably, China had appointed General Li Shangfu as its defence minister in the interim period.
The meeting between Austin and Dong Jun comes against a backdrop of historical tensions, particularly concerning sanctions imposed by the US on Li Shangfu in 2018 under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). These sanctions stemmed from China’s acquisition of military equipment from Russia.
Austin emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the US and China military, during the discussions. The agenda also encompassed key geopolitical issues such as the situations in the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and North Korea’s weapons development program.
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj Gen Pat Ryder highlighted Austin’s emphasis on upholding high seas freedom of navigation. Ryder emphasized that the US remains committed to its One China Policy, guided by various diplomatic agreements.
This resumption of talks follows an agreement between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, reached in November the previous year, to reopen direct military-to-military dialogues. In January of the current year, senior US and Chinese defense officials convened at the Pentagon for discussions on bilateral defense relations.
Moreover, efforts have been made to ensure professional and safe interactions between the air and naval forces of both countries. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to reopen high-level military communication channels that were previously shut down by Beijing in response to perceived provocations, such as US officials’ visits to Taiwan.
The discussions between Austin and Dong Jun coincide with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent visit to China, where she convened a meeting in Washington to discuss economic and financial matters. Yellen highlighted progress made in areas of mutual interest, including combating money laundering, promoting balanced economic growth, and addressing climate change.
The resumption of military talks between the US and China signals a renewed effort to address longstanding tensions and promote stability in the Asia-Pacific region. These discussions, alongside economic engagements, signify incremental steps towards constructive bilateral relations amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges.
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