U.S. and China Hold Historic Military Talks

The United States and China engaged in their first theatre-level commander talks to stabilize military relations and avoid misunderstandings. This initiative follows a series of tensions, including the downing of a Chinese balloon by the U.S. and other geopolitical confrontations. Admiral Sam Paparo and Wu Yanan led the discussions.

The United States and China have embarked on a new chapter of military diplomacy, holding their first theatre-level commander talks on Tuesday. Chinese authorities have confirmed that the discussions aim to stabilize military ties and prevent potential misunderstandings between the two nations.

The U.S. has been keen on establishing regular channels of military communication with Beijing ever since relations plummeted following the downing of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon last year. In this recent attempt, Admiral Sam Paparo, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, engaged in a video call with his Chinese counterpart, Wu Yanan of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army.

These talks come on the heels of a meeting in Beijing between U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and top Chinese military advisors. A significant move, given that U.S.-China military engagements were largely suspended for almost two years following heightened tensions such as the visit of Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August 2022. Discussions at this level are viewed as critical in mitigating risks of unintended military conflicts in hotspots like the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

(With inputs from agencies.)