Off the news: U.S., China pursue military diplomacy

U.S. and Chinese military officials met in Hawaii last week, holding talks focused on “reducing the risk of unsafe and unprofessional encounters” in the Western Pacific. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s deployment of military diplomacy is welcome, and one hopes it will reduce the risks raised by encounters between military forces in the region.

On Monday, the Chinese navy released a statement calling the talks “candid and constructive.” Tensions remain high over China’s military operations in the Pacific, but the U.S. is currently pursuing dialogue over saber-rattling.