Senior U.S. and Chinese military officials will meet on arms race

According to a report on Thursday, senior U.S. and Chinese officials will actually meet next month to conduct much-needed high-level talks between the two military powers.

Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post After President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached a consensus at the summit in November, the Pentagon has been discussing appropriate forms of dialogue.

post Indicates that the meeting may be conducted via a secure phone or video conference, and the date is under consideration. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will chair the meeting.

According to the document, the Department of Defense will hope to link Austin with Xu Qiliang and Wei Fenghe. The former is the Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission headed by President Xi, and the latter is the Minister of Defense of China.

During the 3 1/2-hour Biden-Xi summit, the two leaders agreed to maintain open channels of communication, and Biden warned that the competition between the United States and China should not “get into conflict.” He acknowledged that this kind of competition brings the inherent risk of accidental military conflict.

The long-standing Taiwan issue, especially the increase in US support for its democratic government, is likely to be put on the agenda, just as it was during the Biden-Xi talks. Taipei believes that no matter what happens next in the U.S.-China relationship, U.S. long-term support will remain unchanged. Taiwan’s leaders may also listen to the briefing before and after the planned dialogue next month.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon stated that it had trouble contacting China’s top military leadership, especially Xu.Beijing thinks Wei is more suitable for Austin, according to post.

Senior Biden officials, including Kurt Campbell, the White House’s Indo-Pacific regional coordinator, expressed concern that Xi Jinping’s closest political and military advisers could not be reached. Campbell stated in May that the high-level diplomats that China currently has access to are “far apart” from Xi Jinping’s inner circle. It is described as an obstacle that may hinder Xi Jinping’s decision-making in foreign affairs, especially military affairs.

arms control

post According to the report, at a critical moment when both countries seem to be engaged in an arms race between conventional power, hypersonic speed, and nuclear weapons, progress may be made in arms control.

The Pentagon confirmed that Financial Times This summer, China conducted two hypersonic weapon tests. Austin said this “increased tension in the region.”

Hong Kong newspapers quoted Chinese sources as saying that Beijing is unwilling to resolve the arms control issue with the United States on a bilateral basis, and is demanding that Russia be included in any new weapons treaties.

Although President Biden told Americans to expect “extreme competition” between the United States and China, post It is said that tensions have eased in recent months.

A source told the newspaper: “The PLA’s opposition to the passage of US warships through the Taiwan Strait has eased.” “They discovered that these warships had just sailed in international waters. This route saved them three times from the South China Sea to the Japanese base. Part of the voyage.”