DOD Officials ‘Encouraged’ by Prospect of Direct Talks with China’s Military
In the wake of a rise in China's intercepts of U.S. aircraft, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said direct communication could keep situations from ‘spiraling out of control.’
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto arrive at the 10th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday. [Courtesy: DOD]
Key Takeaways:
The U.S. and China have agreed to restore military-to-military communication, a move welcomed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other U.S. officials.
U.S. leaders emphasize that these communication channels are vital for national security, preventing miscalculations, and managing crises between the two nations.
The re-establishment of ties comes amid a documented rise in aggressive Chinese intercepts of U.S. military aircraft, underscoring the urgency for direct communication.
Defense officials are encouraged by the prospect of the U.S. resuming communications directly with China’s military, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday.
Austin’s comments come one day after President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to restore a military-to-military communication agreement.
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