U.S. and China hold rare military talks to ease tensions in disputed waters
The U.S. and Chinese militaries held direct talks on maritime and air security for the first time since the start of Donald Trump’s second term. The discussions took place in Hawaii this week, covering tensions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan. Both sides described the meeting as 'frank and constructive'.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun last month in Malaysia during the ASEAN summit. Hegseth raised concerns about China’s growing military presence in the South China Sea and its increased patrols near Taiwan. Beijing, in turn, criticized American freedom-of-navigation operations in the same regions.
The talks mark a step toward managing tensions between the two powers. Future meetings will address ongoing concerns over military activity in disputed waters. Both countries have signaled a willingness to maintain open lines of communication.
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