US, Chinese officials hold military dialogue

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - The militaries of the US and China have completed two days of talks aiming to "responsibly manage the competition" between the two countries, Washington announced.

Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, represented the US in a video conference and co-hosted the virtually held 16th Defense Policy Coordination Talks with China's Maj. Gen. Huang Xueping, deputy director of the People's Liberation Army Office for International Military Cooperation, the Pentagon said late on Wednesday in brief statement.

Now concluded, the talks were held to maintain "open lines of communication," US Department of Defense Spokesperson Lt. Col. Martin Meiners said in the readout.

The Chinese side was yet to issue a formal statement on the event.

"The meeting is an important component of the Biden-Harris administration's ongoing effort to responsibly manage the competition between the US and the PRC (People's Republic of China) by maintaining open lines of communication with the PRC," said Meiners.

He said the two sides held a "frank, in-depth, and open discussion" on a range of issues affecting the US-China defense relationship.

"Both sides reaffirmed consensus to keep communication channels open," the spokesperson said, adding that Washington "made clear our commitment to uphold shared principles with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region."