US and China Military Leaders Hold First Talks in Over a Year

Dialogue Focuses on Managing Competition and Maintaining Open Communication Amid Ongoing Disputes

US and China military leaders hold first direct talks in over a year, signaling a potential thaw in relations but significant disputes remain unresolved.
The call between General Charles “CQ” Brown and China’s General Liu Zhenli discussed global and regional security issues, with a focus on managing competition and maintaining open lines of communication.
The dialogue was triggered by a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, aimed at restoring military talks amid escalating concerns about unsafe incidents between the two nations' forces in the Pacific region.
The US is planning a series of calls and meetings with China in the coming weeks and months, including bilateral Defense Policy Coordination Talks and potentially resuming the China-US Military Maritime Consultative Agreement talks.
Despite the dialogue, the Pentagon continues to express concerns about China's aggressive military interactions in the Indo-Pacific and is working to build alliances with other nations in the region.