US‑Chinese military leaders resume talks after 16‑month hiatus amid Taiwan tensions
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that the conversation focused on "responsible management of competition, avoiding misunderstandings, and maintaining open and direct lines of communication." The discussion also encompassed "global and regional security issues." It's reported that General Brown encouraged the initiation of communication channels between the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command and his Chinese counterparts.
7:48 AM EST, December 22, 2023
This dialogue between the commanders marked the first time such a conversation has taken place at this level since China ceased military contacts with the US. This cessation followed then-Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August 2022.
The dialogue occurred just over a month after Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, leaders of both countries, decided to reestablish communication between their militaries during a summit in San Francisco. Prior to this, Beijing had consistently refused Washington's initiatives concerning this matter.
As reported by the Chief of the Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. John Aquilino, aggressive interceptions of American planes in the South China Sea by the Chinese military have significantly dropped since the summit in San Francisco. In contrast, almost 200 such incidents took place over the past two years.
