China, US defence officials hold talks on Pentagon report
- No word from the Chinese side, which could mean higher-level meeting in the offing, observer says
- Discussion meant to build understanding and maintain open channels of communication, US says

In a short statement dated Thursday, the US Defence Department said representatives from the Office of the Secretary of defence and the Joint Staff met representatives from China’s Central Military Commission’s Office for International Military Cooperation on Tuesday.
“The two sides held a constructive discussion to build understanding and maintain open channels of communication between the Department of Defence and the People’s Liberation Army per the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding on Notification of Major Military Activities Confidence Building Measure Mechanism,” the statement said.
According to the Pentagon report, the estimated number of “deliverable nuclear warheads” in China’s arsenal has ballooned from the low 200s last year, and could reach 700 warheads by 2027 and then potentially 1,000 by 2030.
