U.S. and China Resume Military Talks Amid Rising Tensions

The United States and China conducted theatre-level commander talks for the first time to stabilize military relations and mitigate misunderstandings, particularly in the South China Sea. Admiral Sam Paparo from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Wu Yanan of the PLA Southern Theater Command discussed critical issues and stressed continuous dialogue.

The United States and China convened theatre-level commander talks for the first time, aiming to stabilize military ties and prevent misunderstandings, especially in regional hot spots like the South China Sea.

Admiral Sam Paparo, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, engaged in a video call with his Chinese counterpart Wu Yanan of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Southern Theater Command. This comes as Washington seeks to establish regular military communication channels with Beijing, following historic lows in relations post the downing of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon last year.

Their discussions covered critical issues, with Paparo urging the PLA to reconsider its potentially dangerous tactics in the South China Sea. The meeting follows last month's agreement during a Beijing visit by U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. This week, U.S. and Chinese forces are also participating in military drills in Brazil, marking their first joint training since 2016's Rimpac exercise.

(With inputs from agencies.)