The United States and China are set to resume military-to-military communications “in the coming months,” US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced after his meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Friday.
The high-profile meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, focusing on US-China defense relations and broader regional and global security concerns, according to a Pentagon readout.
This meeting marks the first face-to-face encounter between the defense chiefs of the two nations in 18 months, occurring amidst heightened regional tensions. Just days prior, China conducted a large-scale, two-day military drill around Taiwan, while aggressively asserting its disputed territorial claims in the East and South China Seas. Beijing has also criticized Washington’s efforts to bolster security ties with allies like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.
During the meeting, Austin stressed the importance of maintaining open military-to-military communication lines between the US and China, as emphasized by Department of Defense Press Secretary Pat Ryder. Austin reiterated the commitment made by US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2023 to resume telephone conversations between theater commanders soon.
The US Defense Secretary also welcomed plans to establish a crisis-communications working group by the end of the year, underscoring the need for direct communication channels in times of potential conflict.
Expressing concerns over recent Chinese military maneuvers near the Taiwan Strait, Austin cautioned against using Taiwan’s recent presidential election and inauguration of President Lai Ching-te as a pretext for coercive measures. He reaffirmed the US commitment to its longstanding one-China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three US-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances, emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the region.
Austin further highlighted the US’s resolve to continue operating in international waters and airspace as per international law, especially in the South China Sea, advocating for the freedom of navigation.
The discussions also touched upon Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and China’s involvement in supporting Russia’s defense industrial base. Austin expressed concerns over recent provocations by North Korea and its contributions to Russia’s military efforts against Ukraine.
This meeting follows an April 16 video teleconference between Austin and Dong, with the Pentagon indicating ongoing discussions about future engagements between US and Chinese defense officials.
The Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual forum bringing together defense leaders from around the world, began today and will conclude on Sunday. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos is set to deliver the keynote address. Previous speakers have included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Comments