In a significant development, the Defense Minister of the Chinese mainland, Dong Jun, and the U.S. Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, engaged in a series of constructive discussions on Friday in Singapore. The talks, part of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, marked the first in-person meeting between the two defense leaders since November 2022.
Spokesperson Wu Qian from the Chinese Ministry of National Defense described the 75-minute meeting as \"positive, pragmatic, and constructive strategic communication.\" The extended duration underscored the importance both sides placed on addressing critical issues.
Key topics included China-U.S. relations, military-to-military ties, the situation in the Taiwan region, the South China Sea, the Ukraine crisis, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Both leaders emphasized the need to enhance mutual understanding and avoid miscalculations that could escalate tensions.
Defense Minister Dong highlighted that the relationship between the two militaries has stabilized and should continue to adhere to principles of non-conflict and non-confrontation. He stressed the importance of building trust and eliminating misunderstandings to foster a sound military relationship, which benefits both nations and aligns with international expectations.
Looking ahead, the Chinese mainland and the U.S. committed to maintaining open lines of communication through both military and diplomatic channels, aiming to explore pathways that align with mutual interests and global stability.
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Defense chiefs of China, U.S. hold 'constructive' talks in Singapore
cgtn.com
