President Joe Biden is actively pursuing the renewal of military-to-military connections with China, according to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan’s statement on Sunday (Nov 12). This announcement precedes the face-to-face meeting between President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, scheduled during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. Sullivan underscored the President’s unwavering commitment to reestablishing these ties, highlighting their critical role in safeguarding the national security interests of the United States. The objective is to establish clear lines of communication to avert errors, miscalculations, or misunderstandings.
Sullivan detailed that the reinstatement of military ties could encompass various levels, spanning from senior leadership to tactical operational levels, both at sea and in the air in the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasized the importance of preventing any disruptions in communication channels. Sullivan further disclosed that President Biden intends to make progress on military ties during his meeting with Xi, although he refrained from providing specific details. He mentioned that the Chinese side has essentially severed these communication links, and the President is eager to mend and strengthen them, marking this as a top priority on the agenda.
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The upcoming Biden-Xi meeting is anticipated to address a broad spectrum of global issues, ranging from the Israel-Hamas conflict to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea’s connections with Russia, Taiwan, developments in the Indo-Pacific region, human rights concerns, fentanyl production, artificial intelligence, and ensuring “fair” trade and economic relations. A senior US official highlighted the comprehensive nature of the discussions expected between the two leaders.
Source: Channelnewsasia.com
