Pentagon: “We Are Resuming Top-Level Military Communications with China”

4 November 2025

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Washington and Beijing have agreed to reopen their highest-level military communication channels. Hegseth stated that the decision was made following a recent bilateral meeting between senior officials from both countries held in Malaysia.

Beijing had cut off these communication channels in 2022 after then–House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made an official visit to Taiwan. Late last year, under President Joe Biden’s administration, the two sides had resumed military dialogue regarding the Asia-Pacific region, but broader communication lines had remained suspended. Military communication channels are viewed as a mechanism for de-escalation.

FOLLOWING THE TRADE AGREEMENT

On Saturday, Hegseth met with Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. The meeting took place just days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a trade agreement that eased months of tensions.

In a post on X on Sunday, Hegseth wrote, “Admiral Dong and I agreed that we must establish military-to-military channels to resolve any issues that may arise and to reduce tensions.” He added, “We will have more meetings on this matter soon.”

HAD CALLED FOR ARMING AGAINST CHINA

However, just a day earlier at the ASEAN meeting, Hegseth had urged Beijing’s neighbors to strengthen their naval forces to counter “the threats we all face from China’s aggression.” He accused Beijing of engaging in “illegal activities” in the South China Sea, areas which China claims as its sovereign waters but are disputed by neighboring countries.

According to China’s Xinhua news agency, Admiral Dong described his talks with Hegseth as “successful.” He expressed hope that Washington would honor its commitment not to “contain” China or seek confrontation, and that it would take a clear stance against “Taiwan independence.”

Although the U.S. officially adheres to the “One China” policy, it continues its military cooperation with Taiwan and supplies the island with weapons.