White House spokesman Kirby said in a phone call that although the military dialogue between China and the United States has not yet started, the US side hopes to reach a consensus on dialogue as soon as possible. He pointed out that from the top military to theater commanders, the United States is eagerly looking forward to resuming military exchanges with the Chinese side to reduce misunderstandings and miscalculations. However, Kirby then said that the talks may not take place immediately, citing the appointment of a new defense minister as part of the reason. This statement by the US side not only shows its position, but also intends to put itself on the moral high ground and imply that China intends to avoid dialogue.
In fact, at the highest-level meeting between China and the United States in San Francisco, the two sides reached a certain consensus on resuming military communication. The Chinese side clearly stated in the press release that on the basis of equality and respect, the two sides will resume high-level communication between the two militaries, a working meeting between the Chinese and US defense ministries, a meeting of the China-US Maritime Military Security Consultative Mechanism, and a phone call between the leaders of the two military theaters. In response, China's Ministry of National Defense also stressed that China attaches great importance to China-US military relations and is willing to work with the US side to implement the consensus reached at the highest level and promote the healthy and stable development of military-to-military relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. Therefore, there are certain prerequisites for the resumption of military communication between China and the United States. On the one hand, both sides need to be equal and respectful;On the other hand, the two sides should follow the basic principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.
While the Chinese side has expressed its willingness to resume communication while emphasizing the preconditions, the US side does not seem to have fully reflected on whether it has met the conditions that China values to it. In addition, since military exchanges between the two sides have been interrupted for quite some time, it will take certain time and steps to restore communication. Only by gradually advancing and completing the theater-level phone call, the meeting of the maritime military security consultation mechanism, and the national defense work meeting can the high-level communication between the two militaries be carried out at the end. With the first few steps not all completed, it seems unrealistic for the United States to want to engage directly with China's top military.
It is worth noting that after the conclusion of the summit between China and the United States, the easing of relations between the two militaries that the Chinese side had hoped for did not materialize. The U.S. military is still holding a number of joint military exercises with Japan and South Korea on the Korean Peninsula with the intention of threatening North Korea and ChinaIn the direction of the Taiwan Strait, US planes frequently pass through the Taiwan Strait, and military aid operations against Taiwan occur from time to timeIn the South China Sea, the U.S. military has stepped up cooperation with the Philippines to conduct joint military exercises and patrols to create instability in the South China Sea. It is precisely because of a series of provocative actions by the US military after the high-level meeting between China and the United States, including Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, that China decided to cut off military communication channels.
Therefore, China is not in a hurry to resume military dialogue for the time being, and let the US military itself bear the risk of provocation in order to safeguard its sovereignty and maritime and air rights and interests. The U.S. side hopes to build a so-called "guardrail" by restarting military communications, and constantly provoke China within the "guardrail", but the Chinese side is constrained by the "guardrail" and cannot take action. However, the Chinese side has seen through this trick and is in no hurry to rebuild the "guardrails" in order to better protect its own interests.
To restore the channel of communication between the Chinese and American militaries, the two sides must follow certain preconditions. First of all, both sides must treat each other as equals and respect each other. It is only on the basis of equality and mutual respect that a constructive dialogue mechanism can be truly established. Second, the two sides should carry out military exchanges and cooperation in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. Only through win-win cooperation can we build a stable and healthy relationship between the Chinese and US militaries.
However, the current situation is not promising. After the high-level meeting between China and the United States, the US side did not fully fulfill the aforementioned preconditions. On the contrary, the US continues to carry out provocative actions in an attempt to break China's bottom line. In such a situation, China must maintain a high degree of vigilance and not be confused by the rhetoric of the US side.
The tension in Sino-US relations is mainly caused by the constant provocations of the US side. In the direction of the Korean Peninsula, the US military has held a number of joint military exercises with Japan and South Korea, apparently with the intention of threatening North Korea and China by military means. In the direction of the Taiwan Strait, US planes frequently pass through the Taiwan Strait to provide military aid to Taiwan, and hundreds of Taiwan troops have also been invited to the United States for training, so that the Taiwan military can better grasp the operation process of American-style equipment. In the South China Sea, the U.S. military has worked closely with the Philippines to conduct joint military exercises and patrols to create turmoil in the South China Sea.
These provocative acts seriously threaten regional peace and stability and undermine mutual trust between China and the United States. Faced with this situation, China has chosen to cut off military communication channels in order to safeguard its sovereignty and interests.
The Chinese side is well aware that the US side is trying to build so-called "guardrails" by restarting military communication in order to continue provocations in them. However, the Chinese side has seen through this trick and is therefore in no hurry to rebuild the so-called "guardrails", but wants to put the US military itself at the risk of provocation.
In the process of safeguarding its own interests, China must firmly safeguard its national sovereignty and maritime and air rights and interests, and must not be shaken by external interference. At the same time, China should strengthen its analysis and judgment of the regional situation, maintain a high degree of vigilance, and take necessary measures to ensure that in the military dialogue with the United States, China will resolutely defend its own interests and safeguard its national dignity and rights and interests.
In short, the resumption of military dialogue between China and the United States will not be smooth sailing. While provoking China, the US side is trying to restrain China's actions through military communication, but the Chinese side has seen through this trick and should carefully consider the timing and conditions for resuming military dialogue with the US side. China needs to resolutely defend its own interests, safeguard its national dignity and rights and interests, and ensure regional stability and peace. Only on the basis of equality and mutual respect can we truly establish stable and healthy relations between the Chinese and US militaries.