US, China Defense Chiefs Hold First Talks in 18 Months
US, China Defense Chiefs Hold First Talks in 18 Months
The Facts
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a video call with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on Tuesday, marking the first direct talk between defense chiefs in nearly 18 months.
The two discussed bilateral defense ties and regional as well as global security issues, with Austin stressing the importance of expanding military-to-military communications, according to the Pentagon.
The Spin
Metaculus Prediction
China welcomes the Austin-Dong talks as building trusting PRC-US military ties is crucial for developing stable bilateral relations and preventing major crises. However, to avoid jeopardizing the encouraging progress, the US should refrain from playing a double game and take practical measures to maintain regional peace and stability. Beijing rejects any zero-sum logic, and peaceful coexistence is possible as long as China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights are respected.
