After a hiatus of nearly 18 months, United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, engaged in their first substantive dialogue, marking a significant step in efforts to rejuvenate military relations between the two nations.
The dialogue, conducted via videoconference on Tuesday, was announced by the Pentagon, highlighting a mutual attempt to address and stabilize escalating tensions.
During the conference, Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation in international waters, particularly pointing to the South China Sea—a region that has recently become a hotbed of diplomatic and military tensions.
This area is claimed almost entirely by China, leading to disputes with neighboring countries such as Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, all of whom have coastal claims.
The strategic waters have grown into a potential flashpoint between Washington and Beijing, especially following incidents involving China and the Philippines at a disputed shoal, further complicating matters given the Philippines’ status as a US treaty ally.
In response, Dong Jun reiterated China’s staunch stance on its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, urging the United States to recognize and respect these claims and to contribute actively to regional peace.
Dong’s remarks came against the backdrop of a 2016 international court ruling which found China’s expansive nine-dash line claim to lack legal merit.
The conversation also touched upon the sensitive issue of Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing considers a part of its territory, a claim that has historically been a central point of contention in Sino-American relations. Dong described Taiwan as “the core of China’s core interests,” a statement underscoring the significance Beijing places on the island.
This meeting between Austin and Dong follows a period of reduced direct military communication that began after former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, which had resulted in a freeze in military ties.
This freeze showed signs of thawing following a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in California last November, where both leaders agreed on the need to stabilize relations and resume military communications.
Subsequently, high-level engagements have resumed, including discussions between the top military generals of both nations and a recent meeting of military officials from both sides in Hawaii focused on operational safety.
Dong advocated for continuous efforts to build a pragmatic, cooperative military relationship devoid of conflict and confrontation, aimed at fostering mutual trust and avoiding major crises.
Secretary Austin echoed the importance of maintaining and enhancing military-to-military communication to manage and mitigate risks of escalation and to handle any unforeseen incidents effectively.
This dialogue, which also covered global issues like Russia’s war in Ukraine and North Korea, represents a concerted effort by both the United States and China to stabilize their relationship through improved and sustained military communication.
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