First phone call in years between U.S. and Chinese military commanders scheduled

Adm. Samuel Paparo, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, is expected to speak with Gen. Wu Yanan, the commander of China’s Southern Theater, as the two superpowers aim to rebuild military ties and avoid conflict. This will be the first formal conversation between the regional military commanders in years, after previous attempts were unsuccessful. The U.S. and China have been at odds over issues such as Taiwan, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea. Relations reached a low point in 2023 when a Chinese spy balloon appeared over the U.S. and was shot down. President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping agreed to resume military communications at a summit in California in November, and plans were announced for a call between their military theater commanders after a visit to Beijing by Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser. This specific communication channel between the U.S. and China is a priority in re-establishing ties. Biden and Xi are also expected to speak by phone in the coming weeks, with a potential meeting between the two leaders planned in November. The goal of these interactions is to improve relations between the U.S. and China and prevent further escalation of tensions.

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