**China and US Restart Military Talks After Year-Long Pause**
The United States and China have agreed to restart military-to-military communications after over a year of silence between their armed forces. This update came on Friday, November 29, 2025, following military-level talks held in Washington, D.C., as confirmed by both governments.
The dialogue, known as the U.S.-China Defense Policy Coordination Talks, is the first such meeting since the strained relations caused by various disputes, including recent military maneuvers in the South China Sea and tensions over Taiwan. According to the U.S. Pentagon, the two sides discussed regional and global security issues and expressed a desire to keep communication open to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to conflict.
A Pentagon spokesperson stated that both military leaders exchanged views on maritime safety, airspace tensions, and the importance of crisis communication. The two countries agreed to restore phone line communications between their senior military officials—a direct link that had been suspended for over a year.
China’s Defense Ministry also released a short statement, calling the talks “frank, in-depth, and constructive.” Both sides acknowledged the importance of keeping peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Military communications between the U.S. and China have been limited since August 2022, when tensions rose after a visit by a U.S. official to Taiwan. In recent months, there have been close calls between Chinese and U.S. military aircraft and ships in contested areas, raising concerns of an accidental clash.
The conversation follows recent steps by both countries to ease diplomatic tensions. Just weeks ago, U.S. President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco for the first face-to-face meeting in a year. During that meeting, restoring military communication was an important goal for both leaders.
Experts suggest that direct military talks can help lower the chance of a crisis. The return of regular dialogue is seen as an early sign that the two global powers may be taking small but important steps to improve their broader relationship.
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