“U.S. and Chinese Military Officials Hold Talks in Shanghai to Address Risky Naval and Aerial Maneuvers
WASHINGTON, April 3 (Reuters) – U.S. and Chinese military officials held a series of meetings in Shanghai this week aimed at reducing unsafe behavior by Chinese military ships and aircraft, the U.S. military announced on Thursday
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According to a statement from the U.S. military, the discussions were part of working-level talks focused on curbing “unsafe and unprofessional” actions by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and Air Force.
“These meetings, held in Shanghai, were designed to decrease the frequency of unsafe and unprofessional conduct by PLA forces,” the statement said, using the acronym for China’s military.
The talks were conducted under the framework of the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA), a semi-annual dialogue mechanism between the two nations’ armed forces, the statement added.
The U.S. has consistently raised concerns over what it describes as dangerous flying and sailing by Chinese military forces in international waters, particularly in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.
The meetings came just after China wrapped up two days of military exercises around Taiwan, including live-fire drills in the East China Sea, which analysts view as an escalation in regional tensions.
Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Franklin Paul