BEIJING – The defense chiefs of China and the United States on Wednesday discussed issues including Taiwan and the South China Sea in their first known talks since President Donald Trump’s second term began in January.
The two countries announced that Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and his U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth addressed such issues during a video call. They later said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke in a separate phone call.
Hegseth told Dong that the United States “does not seek conflict with China nor is it pursuing regime change or strangulation” of the Asian country, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said.
But at the same time, Hegseth made clear that the United States has “vital interests in the Asia-Pacific, the priority theater, and will resolutely protect those interests.”
The two senior officials have not met in person. Dong was not present at an annual security forum in Singapore attended by Hegseth about three months ago.
According to the U.S. spokesman, Wednesday’s online talks were held in a “candid and constructive manner,” with the two agreeing to further discussions.
China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency said Dong called for maintaining an “open attitude and communication” and building a “sound, stable China-U.S. military relationship that is based on equality, respect and peaceful coexistence.”
Regarding Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, Dong warned that any attempt to support separatists seeking independence through force or to use the island to contain China is doomed to fail, the agency said.
He was quoted as saying that China is committed to working with other countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, where Beijing is locked in territorial disputes with its neighbors.
Voicing China’s firm opposition to “attempts by certain countries outside the region to stir trouble,” he said, “Acts of containment or deterrence against China will not succeed, nor will interference in China’s affairs,” according to the report.
During his conversation with Wang, the U.S. State Department said Rubio highlighted the importance of “open and constructive communication” on various issues.
