Adm. Samuel Paparo of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is expected to have a formal conversation with Gen. Wu Yanan of China’s Southern Theater, responsible for Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea. This call marks the first time in years that the two regional military commanders have engaged. Previous attempts by Paparo’s predecessor to meet with Chinese theater commanders were unsuccessful due to tensions, including a cutoff of military communications by China in 2022 after a visit to Taiwan by Rep. Nancy Pelosi. The U.S. and China have been at odds on various issues including Taiwan, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and China’s actions in the South China Sea.
In 2023, relations hit a low point when a Chinese spy balloon allegedly appeared over the U.S. and was shot down by the U.S. military. President Biden and Xi Jinping agreed to resume military communications at a summit in California in November, leading to plans for a call between the theater commanders after a visit to Beijing by Biden’s national security adviser. The re-establishment of this communication channel was a priority on the adviser’s trip.
The U.S. and China also scheduled a phone call between Biden and Xi in the coming weeks, their first interaction since April, with a potential leaders’ meeting in November. The White House aims to improve relations and avoid conflicts between the superpowers through ongoing diplomatic and military dialogue.
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