US-China Military Leaders Hold Talks   09/16 06:12

   Military leaders from the U.S. and China met in Beijing for routine talks 
that only resumed in January after being suspended for two years as ties 
between the two countries soured. The meetings ended on Sunday and officials 
discussed ongoing issues such as Taiwan, the Russia-Ukraine war and clashes in 
the South China Sea.

   BANGKOK (AP) -- Military leaders from the U.S. and China met in Beijing for 
routine talks that only resumed in January after being suspended for two years 
as ties between the two countries soured. The meetings ended on Sunday and 
officials discussed ongoing issues such as Taiwan, the Russia-Ukraine war and 
clashes in the South China Sea.

   Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, Taiwan and 
Mongolia led a delegation to engage in the bilateral Defense Policy 
Coordination Talks, which were last held in January.. While the talks weren't 
expected to resolve long-standing differences in stances over issues ranging 
from South China Sea claims to Taiwan, the U.S. has continued to push for the 
discussions as a way to avoid conflict.

   The meetings were held after Chase attended the Xiangshan forum in Beijing, 
a defense forum that is China's answer to the Shangri-La Dialogue.

   Communication between the two militaries broke off in 2021, as U.S.-China 
tensions ratcheted up over widening differences on issues such as Taiwan's 
sovereignty, the origin of COVID-19 and economic issues.

   Beijing has ignored U.S. requests to engage in the past, especially over 
intercepts between U.S. and Chinese aircraft and ships. While communications 
resumed after U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in 
San Francisco last November, it is unclear whether the talks could continue as 
the U.S. is poised for a presidential election.

   In the bilateral talks, the two sides discussed China's support for Russia 
during the ongoing Ukraine war, as well as China's actions in the South China 
Sea, said a U.S. senior defense official briefing reporters on the meetings. On 
Sunday, the Philippine ship at a disputed shoal, BRP Teresa Magbanua, had left 
in order to resupply and provide medical care to its crew members. The defense 
official said that they were "watching further developments there very closely."

   China's claims over the South China Sea have become increasingly assertive, 
with increasing clashes with the Philippine coast guard. In August, both sides 
accused each other over a collision between their ships which left gaping holes 
in the Philippine ships.

   The maritime claims have meant clashes at sea, such as at the Sabina Shoal, 
which both China and the Philippines claim. China had blocked attempts to 
resupply the BRP Teresa Magbanua, in August, with a force of 40 ships.

   The Philippines said it would replace the ship immediately, but the 
departure of the ship raises questions of whether China would seize the shoal. 
Filipino scientists had previously found submerged piles of crushed corals in 
its shallows, leading to concern that China may be preparing to build a 
structure to stake its claim.

   China confirmed the departure of the ship, which it said "infringed on 
China's territorial sovereignty."

   "During this period, China had taken control measures against the ship in 
accordance with the law and multiple attempts by the Philippine side to 
forcibly resupply the ship had failed," China Coast Guard spokesperson Liu 
Dejun said in a statement.