US‑China Military Chit‑Chat: A First Since Biden Took the Helm
Picture this: a senior Pentagon official and a Chinese general finally have a video‑call after the sideline was dealt to the quiet backstage act of the US‑China relationship. It’s kind of like a high‑stakes version of two very serious cats after a long fight agreeing to share a sunny spot.
Why This Matters
- President Joe Biden says the U.S. vs. China rivalry is “the biggest geopolitical test of this century.” He’s basically putting the whole world on tight rope between the two giants.
- The tension’s not just ideological; it deals with concrete issues: Taiwan, human rights in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, the South China Sea arms‑race, and a lot of heated Twitter‑style banter.
The Actual Conversation
Last week, Michael Chase, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, dialed into a secure video conference with Major General Huang Xueping, deputy director of China’s PLA Office for International Military Cooperation.
“They used the US‑PRC Defence Telephone Link,” a US official explained, under a cloak of secrecy. The big takeaway: both sides kicked at the post-it list of “keep the lines open” and are seriously into that.
Not Yet: The Secret Talks of the Top‑Dogs
Interestingly, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin hasn’t had a chat with his Chinese counterpart yet. The reason? Lots of back‑and‑forth on who actually is his counterpart. Until that’s sorted, the big‑wig-to-big‑wig conversation remains on hold.
Vice President Harris: Competition, Not Combat
Vice President Kamala Harris made it clear that the U.S. loves a good competitive bubble but hates battlefield fireworks. She’s ready to call out China on maritime squabbles in the South China Sea—land/sea/tide territory drama that involves China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and even Taiwan.
Sanctions and Hailing Allies
Since the U.S. took aim at “the alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang & Hong Kong,” Biden has been flexing his sanctions. He’s also been recruiting friends—think NATO allies, other democracies—to put some serious pressure on Beijing’s “coercive” economic playbook.
So, in a nutshell: a new chapter has opened where the two military giants can talk before any misunderstanding turns into fireworks. We’re all watching, hoping the conversation stays friendly, not flirty or, you know, flaming.
