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China and the US appear to restart military talks despite disputes over Taiwan and South China Sea

By Ap 4 min read

BEIJING (AP) — China and the United States appear to be restarting dialogue between their militaries, despite continuing disputes over Beijing’s claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea.

The U.S. confirmed on Thursday that it plans to send Cynthia Carras, principal director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia, to represent the U.S. Defense Department at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing this month.

The international gathering hosted by the Chinese Defense Ministry aims to discuss security cooperation and raise China’s status as a global power and rival to the U.S. and its Asian allies, including Japan and South Korea.

China froze military exchanges after then-Speaker of the House of Representatives shooting-down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had flown across North America, sparking a major diplomatic crisis between the sides that have already seen ties plummet to a historical low.

In a statement, the Pentagon said it “welcomes the opportunity to engage with (People’s Liberation Army) representatives at the Xiangshan Forum on ensuring open and reliable lines of communication, ensuring crisis communications channels, reducing strategic and operational risk, and avoiding misperceptions.”

Earlier on Thursday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Wu Qian told reporters that “China attaches great importance to the development of military-to-military relations between China and the United States.

The annual Xiangshan Forum is scheduled for Oct. 29-31.

“As we see it, the ranks of the personnel taking part in the exchanges are not the most important. What is more important are the contents of the exchanges,” Wu said.

The comments came as China’s top diplomat Wang Yi departed for Washington to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. That follows a series of high-level visits from the United States to China in recent months. In the latest sign of thawing ties, removal of Li as defense minister without giving any explanation or naming a replacement.

In answer to a reporter’s question on Li’s removal, Wu said: “I suggest you pay attention to the release of authoritative information.”

Former Foreign Minister Qin Gang was

China claims almost all of the strategically vital South China Sea as its own territory. Neighboring countries, including U.S. ally the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim territory in the region.


Associated Press defense correspondent Lolita Baldor contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.

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