Preventing Calculation Errors That Could End In Conflict, The Supreme General Of The US And China Hold Virtual Meetings

Illustration of the flags of China and the US. (Wikimedia Commons/Sgt. Mikki Sprinkle)

JAKARTA - Top US military generals held a virtual meeting with their Chinese partners on Thursday, the Pentagon said, the first communication of more than a year for top military officials of the two countries, amid hopes of restoring a wider military relationship between the two countries.

The video teleconference follows an agreement between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month to resume military-to-military relations between the two countries that Beijing decided after a visit by the then Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taiwan in August 2022.

Chairman of the US Joint Military Chiefs of Staff General AU Charles Q. Brown discussed a number of global and regional security issues with General Liu Zhenli from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General Liu (59) is the Head of the Joint Department of Staff, Central Military Commission (CMC), the military agency responsible for China's combat operations and planning. He is not currently subject to sanctions by the West.

Pentagon officials say communication between the two militaries is critical to preventing miscalculations from turning into conflict.

"General Brown discussed the importance of working together to manage competition responsibly, avoid miscalculation and maintain open and direct communication lines," General Brown's office said.

General Brown reiterated the importance of the People's Liberation Army being involved in a substantive dialogue to reduce the possibility of misunderstanding.

Last month, General Brown said he had sent an introduction letter to General Liu, stating he was open to holding a meeting.

Meanwhile, General Liu said the key to Washington and Beijing to developing healthy, stable, and sustainable military-to-military relations is that the United States has a correct understanding of China, according to a Chinese Defense Ministry statement on Thursday evening.

The Bamboo Curtain country and Uncle Sam's country are known to clash in many ways, from Taiwan's future to territorial claims in the South China Sea. Diplomatic relations between the two countries are also recovering, following the shooting of a Chinese hot air balloon by the United States off the coast of South Carolina.

Regarding the Taiwan issue, which is considered China's internal affairs, General Liu said the country's armed forces would firmly defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity over the matter.

General Liu also asked the US to respect China's territorial sovereignty, as well as maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

"Be careful in your words and actions, and take concrete action to maintain regional peace and stability as well as the situation of China-US relations as a whole," he said.

It is known that General Liu emerged as the main candidate to replace China's National Defense Minister General Li Shangfu, who was dismissed from his post last month.