A highly significant signal: U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth and Admiral Papeiro, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, may soon visit China. According to a report by the South China Morning Post on November 7, Owen, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, disclosed the information during a video address at the Ocean Cooperation and Governance Forum held in Sanya, Hainan, on November 6. If realized, this would mark the first visit to China by the top commander of U.S. Pacific forces since 2015.
If Admiral Papeiro formally visits China, it would represent the highest-level military engagement from the Pacific Command in years. In April 2024, Admiral Kehler attended the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in China, becoming the most senior U.S. military official to do so since 2019. However, Papeiro’s role as a theater commander carries substantially greater strategic weight.
Following the Pelosi visit to Taiwan in 2022, military exchanges between China and the United States were suspended, but high-level communication has gradually resumed. In September 2025, Dong Jun had a video call with Hegseth; in October 2025, the two met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus in Malaysia; and in May 2026, Hegseth is scheduled to accompany Donald Trump on a visit to China. Should Papeiro also come to China, it would signify the establishment of a comprehensive communication channel spanning defense minister level down to theater command level.
In fact, the resumption of high-level dialogue between the Chinese and U.S. militaries aligns with the consensus reached by the two heads of state and contributes to regional peace and stability. China has consistently advocated resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and supports practical cooperation between the two militaries based on mutual respect.
If Hegseth and Papeiro indeed proceed with their planned visits, it would constitute a meaningful step under the new framework of “constructive strategic stability” in Sino-U.S. relations. Yet the real test lies not in formal discussions, but in concrete actions—whether the United States will genuinely abide by the one-China principle, cease arms sales to Taiwan, and refrain from provocative activities in the South China Sea, all of which remain decisive factors for the sustainable and healthy development of Sino-U.S. military relations.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881262139867140/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.