The principal military leader of the United States engaged in a virtual meeting with his Chinese counterpart on Thursday, marking the first such discussion in over a year. This development follows an agreement between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, aiming to reinstate military-to-military ties that were severed by Beijing in response to the visit of then-House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to self-ruled Taiwan in August 2022.
During the video teleconference, 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 delved into "many global and regional security issues," as stated by General Brown's office. General Liu serves as the chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the military entity overseeing China's combat operations and planning.
Pentagon officials emphasize the critical nature of communication between the two militaries to prevent miscalculations that could escalate into conflict. General Brown highlighted the significance of working together to responsibly manage competition, avoid misunderstandings, and maintain open lines of communication. He reiterated the call for substantive dialogue by the People's Liberation Army to reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings.
Last month, General Brown expressed his openness to meeting with General Liu, having sent an introductory letter. General Liu emphasized that a correct understanding of China is key to developing a healthy, stable, and sustainable military-to-military relationship. US officials caution that establishing truly functional dialogue may take time, and some analysts suggest that China seeks ambiguity in defense relations to constrain perceived US military provocations in the region.
The tensions between Washington and Beijing encompass various issues, ranging from the future of Taiwan to territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Diplomatic relations are still recovering after the US downed an alleged Chinese spy balloon in February.
Regarding the Taiwan issue, deemed an internal affair by China, General Liu asserted that Chinese armed forces would resolutely defend state sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also urged the US to respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea while emphasizing the need for prudence in actions and words to safeguard regional peace and stability.
Notably, General Liu is positioned as a top contender to replace China's national defense minister, General Li Shangfu, who was dismissed last month amid an investigation related to suspected corruption in equipment procurement and development. In addressing the matter, General Brown acknowledged corruption in the Chinese military and broader issues in the PLA during his visit to Tokyo last month.
