US and Chinese defense chiefs hold first talks in nearly 18 months

In the past 18 months, Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense, and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held their first substantive talks via videoconference on Tuesday, as reported by the Pentagon. During the discussion, they addressed US-China defense relations and regional and global security issues. Secretary Austin emphasized the significance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication between the United States and China. He also reiterated that the US will continue to carry out military operations in the South China Sea, ensuring safety and responsibility. The escalating diplomatic dispute and recent incidents have made the strategically significant South China Sea a potential flashpoint between Washington and Beijing.