The South China Morning Post has reported a significant development. According to the outlet, U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth and Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Paparo, may soon visit China. On November 8, the Straits Times cited the South China Morning Post, reporting that a senior China affairs expert indicated the potential for both officials to make an upcoming trip to China. The information was disclosed by Dr. Robert E. Orlens, President of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, during a video address at the Marine Cooperation and Governance Forum held in Sanya, Hainan.
Foreign media note that if realized, this would mark the first visit to China by the top military commander in the U.S. Pacific region since 2015. At present, no official confirmation has been provided by Chinese authorities regarding the veracity of the report. However, should such a visit proceed, it would carry substantial significance for stabilizing military-to-military relations between the United States and China, as well as broader bilateral ties. From a functional standpoint, Hegseth serves as the U.S. Secretary of Defense, overseeing the formulation and implementation of America’s overall military policy toward China. A confirmed visit could open avenues for discussions on resuming regular military consultations, ensuring the continued functionality of crisis communication channels, halting escalatory actions, or clarifying the strategic intentions behind U.S. military deployments in the region.
Admiral Paparo, as Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, corresponds to China’s Eastern Theater Command and Southern Theater Command. The Eastern Theater Command is primarily responsible for Taiwan Strait-related contingencies, while the Southern Theater Command oversees operations in the South China Sea. Under Paparo’s command, U.S. naval and air forces have maintained prolonged proximity to Chinese military units in these areas—regions where direct military encounters and strategic competition are most acute. Should Paparo visit China, the two sides could engage in direct dialogue at the theater level to establish operational guidelines for maritime and aerial encounters, and clarify procedures for managing sudden incidents.
The prospect of both the defense secretary and the Indo-Pacific commander visiting China simultaneously is highly unusual. If realized, it would signal a notable de-escalation in military-level tensions between the two nations. This would indicate that both sides are not only willing to conduct high-level consultations on military relations but also to reach concrete agreements on specific operational matters, thereby reducing the risk of miscalculation or unintended conflict. Notably, in August this year, the commander of China’s Eastern Theater Command met with Admiral Paparo during a break at the Asia-Pacific Defense Chiefs’ Conference held in Canada. Given the upcoming APEC summit and other major diplomatic engagements, the likelihood of a U.S. military delegation’s visit appears increasingly plausible.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881260408689668/
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