Earlier this week, U.S. military officials engaged in a series of meetings with their Chinese counterparts in Hawaii, focusing on enhancing operational safety between the two nations, according to U.S. officials speaking on Friday.
President Joe Biden, in a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, aimed to address tensions concerning the South China Sea.
The decision to resume direct military discussions was reached during the leaders` November meeting.
A statement from the U.S. military highlighted that officials from both nations "examined safety-related incidents in recent years and explored strategies for maintaining safety and professionalism in maritime and aviation operations."
China`s defense ministry, in a separate statement released on Saturday, noted that the meetings facilitated candid and constructive exchanges regarding maritime and air security between China and the U.S.
During the discussions, China reiterated its firm opposition to any actions that threaten its sovereignty and security under the guise of freedom of navigation and overflight, as stated by the ministry.
Termed the military maritime consultative agreement (MMCA) working group, the talks occurred on April 3rd and 4th in Honolulu, marking the first meeting of its kind since 2021.
Prior to the November summit between Biden and Xi, tensions had escalated between the two global powers, marked by disputes ranging from Taiwan to China`s military operations in the South China Sea.
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