US-China military talks address potential for accidental conflicts in Indo-Pacific
US and Chinese military officials have met in Hawaii to discuss ways to avoid accidental clashes in the contentious Indo-Pacific region - their first face-to-face gathering since the leaders of both countries agreed in November to resume direct military communications.
Held in Honolulu, the meeting of the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement Working Group took place on Wednesday and Thursday. The US was represented by officers from the Indo-Pacific Command, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Air Forces.
According to Colonel Ian Francis of the Indo-Pacific Command, who led the US delegation, the talks concerned airspace and maritime operations.
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"The United States will continue to operate safely and professionally in the Indo-Pacific wherever international law allows, and we take this responsibility seriously," he said in a statement issued on Friday.
He added that "open, direct, and clear communications" with the Chinese military, formally known as the People's Liberation Army - as well as "with all other military forces in the region - is of utmost importance to avoid accidents and miscommunication".
According to the statement, both sides also reviewed "safety-related events" over the last few years.
The US has accused China of "coercive and risky operational behaviour" against US assets acting lawfully in international airspace over the East and South China seas.
In October, the Pentagon released declassified images and videos showing Chinese fighter jets discharging chaff and shooting flares while approaching US aircraft at high speeds.
According to the statement, both sides also reviewed "safety-related events" over the last few years.
The US has accused China of "coercive and risky operational behaviour" against US assets acting lawfully in international airspace over the East and South China seas.
In October, the Pentagon released declassified images and videos showing Chinese fighter jets discharging chaff and shooting flares while approaching US aircraft at high speeds.
Beijing suspended all military dialogue with Washington in August 2022 after then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. But a breakthrough came in November when Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden agreed to ease tensions and manage disagreements responsibly.
As part of the top-level efforts to stabilise relations, Xi and Biden also spoke this week ahead of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's five-day trip to China, which began on Thursday.
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
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