- U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said relations between the United States and China “has never been better” after recent talks between President Trump and Chinese officials.
- Hegseth met China’s Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun in Malaysia and agreed to establish military-to-military channels to deconflict and deescalate issues.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that relations between the United States and China “has never been better,” following President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea and subsequent military talks in Malaysia.
In a statement posted on X, Hegseth wrote, “I just spoke to President Trump, and we agree — the relationship between the United States and China has never been better.” He said his remarks followed Trump’s “historic meeting with Chairman Xi in South Korea,” which he described as setting the tone for what both sides hope will be lasting stability between the two powers.
Hegseth added that he held an equally constructive meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense, in Malaysia. “The Admiral and I agree that peace, stability, and good relations are the best path for our two great and strong countries,” he wrote.
The Secretary of War said that, as President Trump noted, the “G2 meeting” between the U.S. and China “set the tone for everlasting peace and success for the U.S. and China.” Hegseth added that the Department of War will continue that approach through “peace through strength, mutual respect, and positive relations.”
According to Hegseth, both he and Admiral Dong agreed to create “military-to-military channels to deconflict and deescalate any problems that arise.” He said more meetings are planned between the two defense ministries to sustain communication and prevent future crises.
The post follows a period of renewed engagement between Washington and Beijing, focusing on security coordination and diplomatic outreach. The mention of direct military communication channels suggests a renewed U.S. effort to manage competition with China through dialogue while maintaining a strong defense posture in the Indo-Pacific.
Hegseth wrote, “We have more meetings on that coming soon. God bless both China and the USA!” — a message that underscores the administration’s emphasis on diplomacy backed by military readiness.
The establishment of deconfliction channels could reduce the risk of confrontation between American and Chinese forces in key regions such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.