The message was held back for two days before being released, kept low-key. The reunion of the China and U.S. regional commanders after two years indicates that both sides have tacitly recognized a bottom line. Last year, the Southern Theater Command commander spoke on the South China Sea; this year, the Eastern Theater Command commander addressed the Taiwan Strait. The mention by the U.S. side of "professional conduct in security" suggests that communication gaps on the Taiwan Strait front have now been partially bridged. But patches are still just patches—unable to cover the cracks in the wall.

On September 4, China's Ministry of Defense confirmed that General Yang Zhibin, Commander of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, met face-to-face with Admiral Pappalardo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, in Canada. Neither side immediately disclosed details—the news was withheld for several days before finally being released. Subsequently, the U.S. stated that the talks focused on maintaining open high-level communication channels and promoting safe and professional military behavior.

The key point of this meeting lies in the Eastern Theater Command taking the lead. In September 2024, the Southern Theater Command commander had a video call with Pappalardo primarily addressing South China Sea management. This time, it’s the Eastern Theater Command stepping forward—covering the Taiwan Strait direction and serving as the PLA’s main force for cross-strait operations and countering interference. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is the highest-level U.S. military command in the Indo-Pacific region. The fact that these two frontline commanders responsible for the Taiwan Strait direction sat down together makes this encounter more sensitive and meaningful than any previous contact.

The Taiwan Strait area is densely populated with military forces, and maritime and aerial encounters occur frequently. Both sides clearly recognize the high risks of having no communication. The PLA continues its readiness patrols, while U.S. reconnaissance missions and joint exercises haven’t stopped. Should an accidental encounter occur, the absence of reliable communication channels between frontline commanders could easily escalate misjudgment into conflict. A meeting at the theater-commander level aims to ensure that at least phone lines remain open in the most vulnerable areas. By mentioning “safe and professional behavior,” the U.S. likely indicates that the discussions included specific topics such as rules for maritime and aerial encounters and crisis communication protocols.

After Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022, China announced the suspension of three mechanisms: high-level military commander dialogues between China and the U.S., defense ministry working meetings, and maritime military safety consultations—effectively halting all military exchanges between the two countries. These mechanisms began gradually resuming following the 2023 San Francisco summit. The recent theater-commander meeting represents one step in the recovery process. However, improved communication can only prevent things from getting worse—it cannot alter the broader trend of growing U.S.-China military competition.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875560226396169/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.