The talks had a “positive effect” in promoting understanding and avoiding miscalculations, the spokesman said at a press conference after the meeting.
Wu said the meeting lasted 75 minutes, longer than expected.
01:55
Beijing denies Manila’s claims that Chinese ships are building “artificial islands” in the South China Sea
Beijing denies Manila’s claims that Chinese ships are building “artificial islands” in the South China Sea
In a press release issued after the meeting, the Pentagon said Defense Secretary Austin stressed the “importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication” between Washington and Beijing.
But Austin also expressed “concern over recent provocative PLA activities around the Taiwan Strait” and reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability around the island of Taiwan.
“[Beijing] “China should not use Taiwan’s power transition as a pretext for coercive measures, when it is part of a normal, everyday democratization process,” Austin said, according to a press release.
Austin also stressed the importance of respecting “the freedom of navigation on the high seas guaranteed by international law, particularly in the South China Sea,” and called for “Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine and its allies.” [China’s] “Its role in supporting Russia’s defense industrial base”.
Chinese Lieutenant General He Lei said the bilateral meeting between Dong and Austin marked the resumption of regular high-level exchanges between the two militaries, leading to a more stable and improved relationship between the two militaries.
“China’s new defence minister, Dong Jun, can meet Austin face-to-face to restate China’s core interests and position on major issues, which will have a positive effect on enhancing understanding between the leaders of the two militaries and curbing the risks of disagreements between the two militaries,” He said at the forum on Friday.
According to officials, each side was accompanied by 10 officials to the meeting.
This will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides and follows a telephone conversation in April.
During the phone call, they discussed a range of issues relating to rising military tensions between the two countries over key issues including the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
Relations between the two countries have remained strained since Beijing cut off military communication channels with Washington following a visit to Taiwan by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August 2022.
This will be the first time the defense ministers of the two countries have met in person in two years, since Secretary of Defense Austin met with then-Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe in Cambodia in November 2022.
The rare meeting between the two countries comes amid rising military tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of China and believes it should be unified, by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognize Taiwan as an independent country, but Washington opposes any attempt to seize the island by force and has pledged to arm it.
03:10
Trade, Taiwan to be discussed at tripartite summit between leaders of China, Japan and South Korea
Trade, Taiwan to be discussed at tripartite summit between leaders of China, Japan and South Korea
The United States is one of the largest importers of these products, according to a review of customs data by the South China Morning Post.
More to come…
