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China’s military
ChinaDiplomacy

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

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The Pentagon report highlights China’s growing nuclear arsenal. Photo: Reuters
Teddy NgandKinling Lo
Chinese and American defence officials have held talks to discuss a Pentagon report highlighting China’s growing nuclear arsenal, in a sign that the two militaries are stepping up engagement.
The working-level talks come amid preparations for a meeting between top military officials from both countries amid rising tensions over Taiwan and an arms race for the edge in hypersonic weapons.

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.

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The focus of the talks was the Pentagon’s annual report on China’s military power, released last month.

“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.

02:06

Chinese hypersonic weapons test ‘has all of our attention’, US General Mark Milley says

Chinese hypersonic weapons test ‘has all of our attention’, US General Mark Milley says

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.

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