Current:Home > NewsChina and the U.S. appear to restart military talks despite disputes over Taiwan and South China Sea -VitalWealth Strategies
China and the U.S. appear to restart military talks despite disputes over Taiwan and South China Sea
View
Date:2025-04-24 18:09:42
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.
Chinese reports, as yet not confirmed by Washington, say the U.S. will send a Department of Defense official to attend a Chinese Defense Ministry international gathering that aims to discuss international security cooperation and raise China’s status as a global power.
“China attaches great importance to the development of military-to-military relations between China and the United States,” ministry spokesperson Col. Wu Xian said at a briefing on Thursday,
China froze military exchanges after then-speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi last August visited self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.
China’s 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, Blinken met Chinese President Xi Jinping, the leader of the ruling Communist Party, in Beijing in June.
China had attributed its refusal to restart military communications to sanctions imposed by Washington, including a refusal to allow former defense minister Li Shangfu to visit the U.S.
However, on Tuesday China announced the 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 also removed from office this year under circumstances that the government has yet to explain.
China’s highly opaque political system lends itself to heavy speculation around the reasons why officials are removed, mostly focusing on possible corruption, political differences or violations of an unwritten code of personal conduct.
China on Thursday also released video it said showed a close encounter between the Chinese navy and the USS Ralph Johnson, claiming the American destroyer harassed the navy’s latest-generation type 052 destroyer Guilin while it was undergoing routine training in the South China Sea on Aug. 19.
China claimed the USS Ralph Johnson took a sharp turn and accelerated, crossing the bow of the Chinese ship near the disputed Paracel Islands, which China calls Xisha.
“What the US side wants is to threaten China’s national security with unrestricted provocation and nuisance against China” Wu said, adding that the “Chinese military is always on high alert and will take all necessary measure to firmly safeguard the sovereignty, security and maritime rights of the nation.”
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.
veryGood! (43)
Related
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- NPR quits Twitter after being falsely labeled as 'state-affiliated media'
- In San Francisco’s Most Polluted Neighborhood, the Polluters Operate Without Proper Permits, Reports Say
- When AI works in HR
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Miranda Sings YouTuber Colleen Ballinger Breaks Silence on Grooming Allegations With Ukulele Song
- Frustrated airline travelers contend with summer season of flight disruptions
- Where did the workers go? Construction jobs are plentiful, but workers are scarce
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Behati Prinsloo Shares Glimpse Inside Family Trip to Paris With Adam Levine and Their 3 Kids
Ranking
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Climate Change Poses a Huge Threat to Railroads. Environmental Engineers Have Ideas for How to Combat That
- Child dies from brain-eating amoeba after visiting hot spring, Nevada officials say
- Timeline: The disappearance of Maya Millete
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Why K-pop's future is in crisis, according to its chief guardian
- Jaden Smith Says Mom Jada Pinkett Smith Introduced Him to Psychedelics
- Lime Crime Temporary Hair Dye & Makeup Can Make It Your Hottest Summer Yet
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Chrissy Teigen Gushes Over Baby Boy Wren's Rockstar Hair
Lime Crime Temporary Hair Dye & Makeup Can Make It Your Hottest Summer Yet
Earthjustice Is Suing EPA Over Coal Ash Dumps, Which Leak Toxins Into Groundwater
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
Behati Prinsloo Shares Glimpse Inside Family Trip to Paris With Adam Levine and Their 3 Kids
Dog that walks on hind legs after accident inspires audiences
Gen Z is the most pro union generation alive. Will they organize to reflect that?