In a significant breakthrough, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., had a video conference call with his Chinese counterpart, Chief of the Joint Staff Department Gen. Liu Zhenli, marking the first high-level communication between the two militaries in over a year. The conversation is seen as a crucial step towards renewing cooperation and reducing tensions between the United States and China.

The long-awaited discussion, which took place on Thursday, comes after a strained silence between senior US and Chinese military officials that greatly concerned the Pentagon. The importance of responsible competition management, avoiding miscalculations, and maintaining open lines of communication were key topics discussed during the call, according to Joint Staff spokesperson Capt. Jereal Dorsey.

Notably, this was the first conversation between Gen. Brown and Gen. Liu Zhenli since Gen. Brown assumed the role of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The lack of communication between the two military leaders was a growing source of worry, particularly given the series of high-profile incidents that occurred over the past year.

One such incident was the visit of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August 2022, which prompted China to conduct military drills near the island. Additionally, there have been concerning actions by Chinese pilots, displaying "coercive and risky" behavior towards US aircraft over the East and South China Seas.

Restoring communication between the US and Chinese military was emphasized during talks between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month. President Biden expressed his commitment to managing the situation rationally and avoiding conflict.

The lack of dialogue with China has been a grave concern for US military leaders, who have consistently highlighted the need for communication. Last month, the Pentagon stated that active coordination was underway to establish communication channels with Beijing. While US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin briefly spoke with China's former Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu at the Shangri-La Dialogue in June, no substantive exchange took place. Since then, Li Shangfu has been replaced, and a new defense minister has yet to be appointed.

During the video conference call, Gen. Brown and Gen. Liu Zhenli also discussed the importance of opening lines of communication between the US Indo-Pacific Command and the People's Liberation Army Eastern and Southern Theater Commands. This renews hope for effective collaboration and reducing misunderstandings.

The successful talks between the top US and Chinese military officials represent a significant turning point in bilateral relations. As both nations seek to manage competition and avoid potential conflicts, there is cautious optimism for future cooperation and the establishment of constructive dialogue.

The restoration of communication is a crucial step towards fostering stability and promoting understanding between the United States and China. It is hoped that further discussions will ensue, facilitating the resolution of pressing issues and ultimately strengthening the relationship between the two global powers.