U.S., China Step Up Military, Diplomatic Talks Ahead of Summit

(MENAFN) High-level communications between the United States and China intensified this week, as senior defense and diplomatic officials from both nations held rare direct talks—part of a broader effort to arrange a potential summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.

Sources indicate that preparations are ongoing for Trump to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next month in South Korea, which has formally invited Xi to attend in person.

On Tuesday, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun conducted his first official call with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a statement from China’s Defense Ministry released Wednesday.

During the call, Dong emphasized mutual respect for sovereignty, warning that “the acts of containment or deterrence against China will not succeed, nor will interference in China's affairs.” He also urged Washington to avoid escalation over Taiwan, but added that Beijing “wants to uphold an open attitude” and is willing to foster a “sound, stable China-US military relationship that is based on equality, respect and peaceful coexistence.”

Hegseth, while emphasizing that the United States is not aiming for confrontation with China, reaffirmed that Washington considers the Asia-Pacific region its primary strategic focus and is prepared to defend its interests there, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

Later the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, where he emphasized the importance of sustaining regular and productive diplomatic engagement. The State Department said the two officials also addressed a range of global and regional issues, continuing the dialogue they began in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year.

Their initial face-to-face meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Malaysia in July, where both sides described the talks as constructive, even as disputes over reciprocal tariffs remained unresolved.

The renewed diplomatic momentum comes on the heels of a week dominated by major state events in China, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and a large-scale military parade commemorating the end of World War II.

That parade, held in Tiananmen Square, was attended by leaders from China, Russia, and North Korea, along with 24 other foreign dignitaries. In the aftermath, Trump accused the three nations of colluding against the United States—a claim promptly denied by both Beijing and Moscow.

MENAFN11092025000045017169ID1110047255