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 resume direct military-to-military communications, a move welcomed by U.S. defense officials.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasize that restoring these ties is crucial for U.S. national security, aiming to prevent miscalculations and manage crises.
This decision follows a documented rise in aggressive encounters, including nearly 200 incidents of Chinese PLA pilots intercepting U.S. military aircraft in international airspace over 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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