Adm. Samuel Paparo is expected to speak with Gen. Wu Yanan, China’s Southern Theater commander, in an effort to rebuild military ties and avoid conflict. This will be the first formal conversation between the regional military commanders in years. U.S.-China relations have been strained over various issues, including Taiwan’s status, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. The lowest point was in early 2023 when a Chinese spy balloon was shot down over the U.S. President Biden and Xi agreed to resume military communications at a summit in California in November and announced plans for a call between their military theater commanders. Re-establishing this communication channel was a priority on Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan’s recent trip to Beijing. The two leaders are also set to have a phone call in the coming weeks, marking their first interaction since April. The White House is aiming for a meeting between Biden and Xi in November. This development signals a step towards improving U.S.-China relations and maintaining peace in the region.
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