Overview
- US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun engaged in their first substantive talks since November 2022.
- The talks focused on defense relations, regional stability, and the importance of open military communication.
- Both sides emphasized respect for international law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
- The dialogue also covered global security issues, including the situations in Taiwan, North Korea, and Ukraine.
- Future engagements are planned to continue dialogue and prevent conflict.