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 direct military-to-military communications, a move encouraged by U.S. defense officials.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Biden emphasize that reestablishing these ties is vital for U.S. national security to prevent mistakes, miscalculations, and miscommunication.
The need for open communication is highlighted by a documented rise in Chinese military intercepts of U.S. aircraft in international airspace, with nearly 200 incidents reported in the past two years.
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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