Top US, Chinese military officials hold first high-level discussions in over a year

The Pentagon expressed concerns about the year-long silence that had been broken by the highest-ranking US and Chinese military officials speaking on Thursday, CNN reported. This was a significant development. A video conference call was started by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General CQ Brown, Jr. and Chinese counterpart General Liu Zhenli of the People’s Liberation Army of China. According to CNN, this was the first time the two leaders had spoken since Gen. Brown took on the chairmanship.

During the video conference, Gen Brown emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to responsibly manage competition, prevent miscalculations, and maintain open lines of communication, Joint Staff spokesperson Captain Jereal Dorsey said.
“Gen Brown discussed the importance of working together to responsibly manage competition, avoid miscalculations, and maintain open and direct lines of communication,” Dorsey said, adding, “Gen Brown reiterated the importance of the People’s Liberation Army engaging in substantive dialogue to reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings.”
The hiatus in communication between the US and Chinese military leadership had persisted for over a year, triggered by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022. China responded with military drills around the island, leading to heightened tensions.