By Chen Qingqing and Guo Yuandan
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Malaysia on Friday, where he was attending the 12th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus. Dong stressed during the meeting that the reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits is an irreversible historical trend, urging the US side to act and speak prudently on Taiwan-related questions and to take a clear stance against “Taiwan independence.”
Several Chinese experts told the Global Times on Friday that the meeting between Chinese and US defense chiefs marked a concrete step to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday.
China remains committed to peaceful development while resolutely safeguarding its national security interests, and has the full capability and confidence to respond calmly to any acts of provocation and infringement, Dong said, according to a statement issued by China’s Minister of National Defense.
He expressed the hope that the US would deliver its commitment to neither contain China nor seek conflict, and work with China to inject positive energy into regional and global peace and stability, per the statement.
The successful meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in South Korea provided strategic guidance for the stable development of China-US relations in the next stage, pointing out that the two countries can achieve mutual success and shared prosperity, Dong said.
Dong emphasized that the defense departments of both sides should take concrete actions to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders, set an example through high-level strategic communication, strengthen policy-level dialogue to enhance mutual trust and dispel doubts, promote positive interactions among frontline personnel, and encourage cooperation among military academies, think tanks, and scholars to explore ways for the two militaries to coexist properly.
The Chinese defense minister also called for building a relationship of equality, respect, peaceful coexistence, and stability between the two militaries to support the steady progress of overall bilateral relations.
Hegseth described his talks with the Chinese defense minister “good and constructive” in a post published on X following the meeting.
A photo posted on social media by Hegseth shows Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, to his right. According to protocol, the Chinese delegation would typically include commanders from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command. “Having the leaders responsible for frontline forces in the South China Sea participate in the meeting demonstrates both sides’ emphasis on risk management,” Zhuo Hua, an international affairs expert at the School of International Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday.
An anonymous Chinese military expert said the latest meeting between Chinese and US defense chiefs was significant for three reasons. “First, it helps implement the consensus reached between the two heads of state and promotes the stability of China-US military relations. Second, it contributes to restoring strategic communication between the two militaries and managing military risks. Third, it helps stabilize global strategic expectations and inject greater certainty into world peace,” the expert said.
The emphasis on the Taiwan question during the meeting also became a major focus in media reports. Some Chinese experts indicated that the US-China military exchanges must be grounded in equality and mutual respect, with the most direct manifestation being that the US should not interfere in the Taiwan question.
“Taiwan is at the core of China’s core interests. The US should not use the banner of ‘seeking peace through strength’ to conduct military coercion or deterrence against China,” Zhuo said.
Song Zhongping, a military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Friday that the principle of “no conflict” between China and the US largely depends on how the Taiwan question is handled.
“Given the strong conservative forces in the US, it’s unlikely they will abandon the Taiwan question entirely. Therefore, China must be fully prepared – to resolve the Taiwan question in its own way and safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity with its comprehensive national and military strength,” Song said.
Previously, inconsistent US statements and actions often complicated China’s strategic assessments, experts said.
“On the one hand, the US claims it does not seek to contain China, yet it frequently encourages allies to stir up trouble in regions such as the South China Sea, disrupting regional security. On the other hand, it talks about military balance while continuously flexing military power. These actions could easily lead to misjudgments and risks between the two militaries,” Zhuo said.
