China, US defence officials agree to improve ‘communication’ to reduce risks
US and Chinese defence officials met in Washington for the first meeting of a Crisis Communications and Prevention Working Group established under an agreement announced in September when leaders of the two nations met. The two sides agreed on the importance of “advancing practical communication measures” to reduce risks between the US and China, according to a Pentagon readout of the meeting…
Defence officials from the United States and China convened in Washington for a crucial meeting to enhance communication channels and mitigate potential risks between the two nations. The Crisis Communications and Prevention Working Group, established in September following a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, aimed to advance practical measures for crisis management.
During the meeting, delegates discussed additional communication channels and expedient methods to ensure effective dialogue. The Pentagon, in a release, emphasized that the Department of Defense would continue to engage with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on key defense matters in the coming months. The first such gathering of military officials from the two countries since the agreement was announced occurred on November 2 and 3, with Cynthia "Xanthi" Carras from the US and Senior Colonel Wang Wei from China participating.
This meeting marked a significant step in restoring the military communication hotline, which had been severed in August 2022 due to tensions over Taiwan. While the Chinese foreign ministry had announced the agreement on September 26, specific details about the new crisis management mechanism remained undisclosed. China and the US have maintained consultation arrangements and senior communication channels, but the focus on crisis management indicates a heightened awareness of potential conflict over Taiwan.
The limited history of actual communications on the hotline, despite previous efforts to restore it under Trump's administration, underscores the importance of this meeting in fostering trust and reducing risks between the global superpowers.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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