First phone call in years between U.S. and Chinese military commanders

The top U.S. military commander in the Indo-Pacific region, Adm. Samuel Paparo, recently spoke with his Chinese counterpart Gen. Wu Yanan in an effort to rebuild military ties and reduce the risk of conflict between the two superpowers. This was the first formal conversation between the two regional military commanders in years. During the call, they discussed issues of common interest and the importance of sustained communication to avoid misperception or miscalculation. Paparo expressed concerns about recent unsafe interactions between China’s military and U.S. allies, and urged the Chinese military to comply with international laws and norms to ensure operational safety. Both commanders are relatively new in their roles, with Paparo assuming command in May and Wu being appointed in July. The U.S.-China military communication was re-established after President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to resume high-level talks at a summit in November. The two countries also announced plans for a call between their military theater commanders and a possible phone call between Biden and Xi. This communication channel is seen as a priority to address rising tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. is also sending a deputy assistant secretary of defense to a high-level security conference in Beijing, showing a renewed focus on military dialogue between the two nations.

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