First discussions between top military officials in the US and China in over a year
In discussions with General Liu Zhenli of the PLA, General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasizes the need for communication
The United States' highest-ranking military official engaged in a virtual meeting with his Chinese counterpart, marking the resumption of high-level talks after a hiatus of over a year, as announced by the Pentagon.
The suspension of such discussions by Beijing occurred following a visit to self-ruled Taiwan by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August 2022. However, during a recent meeting between the leaders of the two nations, an agreement was reached to recommence these critical dialogues.
In the virtual meeting, US Air Force General Charles Q Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Liu Zhenli of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) delved into "several global and regional security issues," according to a statement from General Brown’s office.
General Liu, the chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC) responsible for China’s combat operations and planning, engaged in discussions with General Brown on fostering responsible competition management, averting miscalculations, and maintaining open communication channels.
In a statement, Captain Jereal Dorsey, a spokesperson for General Brown, emphasized the importance of substantive dialogue to prevent misunderstandings and highlighted the significance of the People’s Liberation Army's engagement.
Last month, General Brown expressed his willingness to meet and sent an introductory letter to General Liu. The latter stressed that developing a healthy, stable, and sustainable military-to-military relationship required the US to have a "correct understanding of China," as stated in a late Thursday release from the Chinese defense ministry.
While there is cautious optimism about the restoration of military communications, US officials have warned that establishing a functional dialogue may take time due to persisting disagreements on various issues, including Taiwan, the South China Sea, and trade. China's territorial claims, particularly in the South China Sea, have been a significant point of contention, with tensions escalating this year, especially with the Philippines.
The call between General Brown and General Liu, described by Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder as a "positive development," aligns with the commitment made by US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during their November meeting in California to restore military-to-military communications to ease tensions.
Liu, considered a top contender to replace China’s national defense minister, General Li Shangfu, who was dismissed in October, has called for the US to respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea. Despite these diplomatic strides, challenges persist, and the imperative of maintaining open lines of communication between the two nations remains crucial to preventing miscalculations in the context of their sizable militaries.
