Washington and Beijing decided to bring back a diplomatic instrument that was fundamental in avoiding a conflict between nuclear powers for decades
The governments of the United States of America and China reached an agreement to reopen direct communication between the armies of both countries, in order to avoid possible incidents and reduce tensions. The announcement was made by the North American Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, after the meeting between the presidents of the two countries.
After the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, in South Korea, Hegseth met with the Chinese Minister of National Defense, Admiral Dong Jun, in Malaysia, where the two sides agreed to establish a closer communication channel between the two superpowers.
“Admiral Dong and I agree that peace, stability and good relations are the best path for our two great and strong countries”, wrote Pete Hegseth in a post on Twitter, where he added that the Pentagon will act in that spirit, through “peace, strength, mutual respect, and positive relations”, he said.
Despite not resolving fundamental disputes between the two countries, such as Taiwan or the trade war between the two nations, this agreement could avoid misunderstandings between the two most powerful militaries in the world, particularly at a time when tension between China and several American allies in the region is reaching historic levels.
One of these cases occurred in early June, with a Chinese coast guard ship colliding with a Philippine patrol vessel, in a maritime region claimed by Manila but controlled by Beijing. Four Filipino crew were injured and the ship was damaged. The incident led the Pentagon to activate emergency consultations with the Philippines, a country with which the Americans have a mutual defense agreement.
The return of the “red telephone”, as the line of communication established in 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union after the Cuban Missile Crisis became known, opens the door to fewer mistakes being made and a reduction in tension between the two countries.
