The United States and China have agreed to establish direct military-to-military communication channels to prevent misunderstandings and reduce the risk of conflict, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Saturday.

Hegseth made the announcement after meeting Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun in Malaysia. He said both sides recognised the need for structured defence talks to “deescalate any problems that arise in the future” and to manage tensions before they escalate.

The US defence chief said the decision followed the positive momentum created at the leadership level. “After President Donald Trump met with Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping in South Korea, I had an equally positive meeting with my counterpart, China's Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun in Malaysia,” Hegse

See Full Page