Staff Reports
In a groundbreaking turn of events, the top brass from the United States and China have finally put an end to their 16-month-long spat by engaging in a much-needed conversation. Chief of the Joint Staff Air Force Gen. CQ Brown and his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Liu Zhenli, participated in a videoconference to discuss “a number of global and regional security issues.” According to the Pentagon, Gen. Brown emphasized the importance of managing competition responsibly and avoiding misunderstandings, highlighting the significance of maintaining open lines of communication.
The long-standing rift between the two military powers began in August 2022, when then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial trip to Taiwan irked Beijing, prompting them to sever all military communications with the US. The tension only escalated when the US detected a Chinese spy balloon trespassing into its airspace. Despite the Pentagon’s attempts to seek an explanation, Beijing obstinately denied any intentional wrongdoing, forcing the US Air Force to shoot down the surveillance craft after its week-long incursion.
US, China military leaders hold first call in more than a year https://t.co/rjGHuEXz0Y pic.twitter.com/ynlV3L0vAt
— New York Post (@nypost) December 21, 2023
This much-anticipated call comes on the heels of President Biden’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the two leaders agreed to resume military-to-military communications. The absence of dialogue between the two nations had raised substantial concerns within the defense establishment, citing the dangers of misinterpretation and potential conflicts in the absence of open channels of communication.
Gen. Brown has been vocal about the necessity of regular discussions on defense policy coordination and the resumption of talks under the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement, which had hit a roadblock in 2020. These maritime talks hold immense significance in upholding peace in the western Pacific, particularly concerning the US Navy’s patrols in the South China Sea, where they contest China’s disputed claims to islands and reefs.
Amidst China’s numerous “coercive and risky air intercepts” and provocative behavior in the region, the Pentagon remains hopeful that maintaining open lines of communication will mitigate potential miscalculations and prevent unintentional conflicts. While Beijing’s stance on reactivating emergency hotlines and committing to regular communication remains uncertain, the United States is eager to foster constructive dialogue with the People’s Republic of China.
