HONG KONG: On Friday, a senior US naval officer expressed enthusiasm about the potential for enhanced operational communications with the Chinese military amidst escalating regional tensions, noting that further efforts were required to establish concrete next steps.
Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, emphasized the crucial necessity of maintaining open channels of communication between the two militaries to prevent any misunderstandings or miscalculations that might escalate into conflict. During her visit to Busan, she expressed enthusiasm and approval for China’s decision to restart telephone communications between theatre commands, a development eagerly awaited by U.S. officials.
These recent agreements mark a significant step forward, but there’s ongoing work to be done with the PRC military to solidify our next actions, Franchetti stated during her first trip to the region after being confirmed as the first woman to lead the Navy and join the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Her comments followed recent agreements between U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping to reinstate military contacts that China had halted following a visit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August 2022.
The necessity for enhanced military communications was a crucial aspect of extensive discussions during the recent four-hour meeting between the two leaders in San Francisco, which addressed tensions concerning Taiwan, Iran, and collaborative efforts to stem the flow of opioid fentanyl into the United States.
Franchetti stressed the importance of all navies adhering to established rules and norms of proper military conduct in international waters, particularly in light of reported near misses and unsafe interactions between Chinese aircraft and ships and those of the U.S. and other regional forces in the South China Sea and across East Asia.
Regarding inquiries about Chinese military advancements, notably in submarines and undersea surveillance, Franchetti expressed confidence in U.S. naval supremacy despite China’s ongoing development in maritime and other domains.
She highlighted the strategic advantage of the U.S. through its close operational ties with allies and partners, a synergy China lacks. Franchetti emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to continued close collaboration, planning, and joint exercises with its network of allies and partners worldwide to deter potential adversaries like China.
