WASHINGTON — The head of US forces in the Indo-Pacific is scheduled to speak with a senior Chinese military commander from the southern theatre within the next few weeks, aiming to prevent potential military misunderstandings between the two nations, according to US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns on Thursday (Sept 5).

Burns' comments followed US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's visit to Beijing last month, where he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s top military adviser. It was agreed that US Indo-Pacific command leaders would soon have a phone conversation with their counterparts in China’s southern theatre command, which oversees the southern seas.

Burns noted that Admiral Sam Paparo is expected to engage with the southern theatre commander of the People's Liberation Army shortly. He emphasized that Washington has been working to enhance military communication with Beijing after tensions escalated last year when the US shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon.

Burns expressed hope that this dialogue would extend to even higher levels, including discussions between US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, his Chinese counterpart, and the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Charles Brown, and his counterpart.

He stressed the importance of establishing effective communication channels to address potential accidents or misunderstandings, allowing military leaders to de-escalate situations and resolve issues rationally.

Burns also voiced concern over the aggressive nature of China's military expansion and its intimidating behavior towards US allies like the Philippines and Japan. He stressed the need for prompt communication between the two countries' military leaders to manage any incidents.

Additionally, Burns mentioned some progress in addressing the issue of fentanyl, a leading cause of US drug overdoses, but urged for further actions on precursor chemicals, arrests, and illicit finance.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Mark Schiefelbein via Reuters file