US and Chinese military representatives recently met in Hawaii to discuss the safety of forces in the Pacific, marking the first in-person meeting of its kind in years after previous cancellations by China. The Military Maritime Consultative Agreement Working Group meeting took place in Honolulu with 18 officials from China’s People’s Liberation Army and 18 representatives from various US military commands in the Pacific attending. The talks were described as critical to ensuring the safe operation of military forces by a senior US military official, emphasizing the importance of operating safely for the benefit of service members.
This meeting follows President Biden’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2023, during which both leaders committed to maintaining military-to-military communication. The recent meeting in Hawaii was the first in-person gathering in years, as the last MMCA event in December 2021 was held virtually. These MMCA meetings between the US and China have been ongoing since 1998, highlighting the importance of open communication channels between the two nations on military matters.
In addition to the meeting in Hawaii, Biden and Xi also spoke on the phone to discuss various topics like countering narcotics, artificial intelligence, and climate change. This conversation served as a follow-up to their November discussions and included talks about the military-to-military relationship between the US and China. In January, officials from both countries met at the Pentagon to further discuss relations after a period of cancellations by China leading up to that point.
The head of the US delegation for the MMCA meeting, Army Col. Ian Francis, described the event as the military’s primary means for directly discussing air and maritime operational safety with the PLA. A senior military official noted a reduction in unsafe behavior between US and Chinese aircraft over the Pacific, which they viewed as an encouraging sign that they aimed to sustain. Despite this progress, US officials raised concerns about China’s dangerous and unlawful actions against routine maritime operations conducted by the Philippines in the South China Sea.
US officials previously highlighted an increase in coercive and risky behavior from Chinese pilots against US aircraft over the last two years but noted a decrease in unsafe interceptions by China in January. The discussions in Hawaii and other recent engagements between the US and China indicate ongoing efforts to maintain communication and address safety concerns in the Pacific region. These interactions play a crucial role in promoting operational safety and reducing the risk of incidents between the two militaries in the area.
