US and China Agree to Restart Military Communication Following Summit

President Joe Biden has announced that the US and China have agreed to resume military-to-military communications in an attempt to ease tensions between the two countries. This comes after a face-to-face meeting between President Biden and China's President Xi Jinping in California, marking their first in-person conversation in over a year. President Biden stated that the reestablishment of communication channels is crucial to prevent accidents and increase transparency between the two nations. China had severed military communications last year after Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which Beijing considers its territory. Despite their differences, President Biden described the talks as constructive and productive, although he referred to President Xi as a dictator, emphasizing their political differences. Apart from military communications, the two leaders also reached agreements on addressing the flow of fentanyl into the US and jointly examining artificial intelligence. They additionally discussed the Israel-Gaza conflict, with President Biden urging China to use its influence to discourage provocative actions from Iran. Both leaders spoke about the significance of Taiwan in US-China relations, with President Xi considering it the most dangerous issue. The restored military communications were announced by China, emphasizing the importance of equality and respect. President Xi expressed that the success of one country is an opportunity for the other and highlighted the consequences of confrontation. Although the meeting was highly anticipated, officials from both sides downplayed expectations of significant breakthroughs, focusing instead on managing competition, preventing conflicts, and maintaining open communication channels. Relations between the US and China have been strained since a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down in US airspace in February. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Beijing in June aimed to improve communication and engagement between the two countries despite major issues that remain.