US and China Hold Rare Military Talks in Washington

Senior American and Chinese defense officials met in Washington this week. The talks are a sign of renewed military communication between the two global powers. The meeting was part of the 19th annual US-China Defence Policy Coordination Talks. It was held from December 15. The US official was Alvaro Smith. He is a deputy assistant secretary of defence for China, Taiwan and Mongolia at the Pentagon. He met with China’s Major General Ye Jiang. Ye is the Deputy Director of China’s Central Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation. The discussions are part of an ongoing effort to stabilise relations. Restoring "military-to-military" dialogue is seen as crucial to avoid misunderstandings. Both sides seek to manage competition and prevent unintended conflict.