US Pacific military officers hold first significant meeting with Chinese counterparts since 2021

U.S. military officials with Indo-Pacific Command, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Air Forces met with Chinese military counterparts this week in the first large gathering between officers since December 2021.

The meeting, called the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement Working Group (MMCA), also came the same week that President Biden called Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first time the leaders talked since a high-stakes meeting in November.

That November meeting resulted in the leaders reopening military-to-military channels that had been suspended after then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) traveled to Taiwan, which China claims sovereignty over, prompting unprecedented military drills from Beijing.

The MMCA took place at Honolulu on Wednesday and Thursday, involving discussions over airspace and maritime operations with the Chinese military, called the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Army Col. Ian Francis with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, who led the delegation, stressed the communications with the PLA were vital to maintaining safety in the region.

“Open, direct, and clear communications with the PLA and with all other military forces in the region is of utmost importance to avoid accidents and miscommunication,” Francis said in a statement.

The officials also reviewed incidents during the past few years over the Pacific. The U.S. has accused China of risky and coercive behavior over the airspace, saying fighter jets have often come brazenly close to American aircraft.

After the Biden-Xi meeting in November, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. CQ Brown Jr. met virtually with his Chinese counterpart in December.

Updated at 11:06 a.m. ET