Dr. Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, engaged in a video teleconference today with Major General Li Bin, Director of the Central Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), to address issues of mutual concern.
During the discussion, the two officials explored U.S.-PRC defense relations. Assistant Secretary Ratner underscored the significance of maintaining open lines of communication within defense channels to mitigate the risk of miscommunication. He reiterated the importance of conducting regular calls between the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the PRC Southern and Eastern Theater Commanders, following the November 2023 announcement by President Biden and PRC President Xi Jinping about arranging telephone conversations between theater commanders.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of operational safety across the Indo-Pacific region, with Assistant Secretary Ratner affirming the United States’ unwavering commitment to its allies both in the Indo-Pacific and globally.
Regional and global security issues were also a focal point of the meeting. Assistant Secretary Ratner emphasized the critical importance of upholding high seas freedom of navigation, as guaranteed under international law, and voiced concerns about aggressive PRC actions against Philippine vessels operating lawfully in the South China Sea. He also addressed the relationship between Russia and North Korea, expressing serious concern over the PRC’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base, which facilitates Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Additionally, Assistant Secretary Ratner reaffirmed the United States’ longstanding one China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. He emphasized the importance of preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.–News Desk