China and the United States have resumed direct military-to-military communication, according to US President Joe Biden. He emphasized how crucial it is to keep lines of communication open and transparent in order to prevent mistakes that could have major repercussions for relations between the two superpowers. Speaking at a press conference in California after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Biden stated, “It is my responsibility and President Xi Jinping’s to ensure that law enforcement coordination and policy are maintained moving forward. Second, and perhaps most importantly, we’re resuming direct military-to-military contacts. Thus, direct, honest, transparent, and direct communications are once again the norm.”
Biden also highlighted the necessity of direct and transparent communication to prevent “vital miscalculations.”
“Vital miscalculations on either side can cause real trouble with a country like China or any other major country. So I think we’ve made real progress there as well,” Biden said on Wednesday (local time).
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), followed efforts between the US and China to increase high-level communication amid continued tensions.
“I think it’s paramount that you and I understand each other clearly leader to leader, with no misconceptions or miscommunication,” Biden said at the start of the summit.
Xi arrived in the US on Tuesday (local time) and the meeting, occurring at an undisclosed estate, marked the first encounter between the two leaders in a year and Xi’s first visit to the US in six years.