U.S. and China Hold Military Talks on Avoiding 'Accidents' at Sea, in Air

U.S. forces in the Pacific are convening virtual talks with their Chinese counterparts this week, in keeping with commitments made during last month's summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Hawaii-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) said representatives from the U.S. Pacific Fleet(USPACFLT) and U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) would meet their People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Air Force (PLAAF) counterparts between December 14 and 16.

The three-day meeting is being held under the two-decade-old Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA)—signed in 1998 between the Department of Defense and the People's Republic of China's (PRC) Ministry of National Defense—and will discuss "activities at sea and in the air of the two militaries, to promote safe practices and avoidance of accidents, and establish communications procedures when ships and aircraft encounter each other at sea and in the air," the notice read.

"The U.S. remains fully committed to its allies and partners to ensure peace and stability in the region," said Maj. Gen. Chris McPhillips, director for Strategic Planning and Policy at USINDOPACOM, who is leading the U.S. delegation.

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