(MENAFN) Ely Ratner, the United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, has revealed that the Pentagon's recent efforts to establish communication with China's military have been met with indifference or rejection. Speaking at an event held by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Ratner stated that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin values the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and has actively sought to expand such channels. However, their attempts to propose phone calls, meetings, and dialogues have encountered significant difficulties.
According to Ratner, requests for dialogue initiated by General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral John Aquilino, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command, as well as other military and civilian officials, have either been outright rejected or left unanswered by Beijing. Despite the US and Department of Defense extending an open hand for military engagement, they have yet to find consistent and willing partners on the Chinese side.
These revelations highlight the challenges faced by the United States in its efforts to establish meaningful communication and dialogue with China's military. The Pentagon has expressed a genuine interest in fostering constructive exchanges to address mutual concerns and reduce the risk of misunderstandings or conflicts. However, the lack of reciprocity from China raises questions about the willingness of the Chinese authorities to engage in transparent military discussions with the United States.
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