'Deconflict, De-escalate': US, China Agree To Establish Military-To-Military Channels, Says Trump Aide

Last Updated:November 02, 2025, 08:24 IST

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the two countries have agreed to promote "peace through strength, mutual respect and positive relations"

President Donald Trump (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shake hands after their US-China summit meeting at Gimhae Airport Jinping in South Korea's Busan on October 30. (Image: AP/Mark Schiefelbein)

The US and China have agreed to promote “peace" by establishing “militay-to-military channels", said US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Sunday.

Hegseth said the aim was to “deconflict and de-escalate any problems that arise" between the United States and China.

His remarks come after he said he had a productive meeting with China’s Minister of Defense Admiral Dong Jun in Malaysia. It also follows US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in South Korea’s Busan on October 30.

“The Department of War will do the same – peace through strength, mutual respect, and positive relations. Admiral Dong and I also agreed that we should set up military-to-military channels to deconflict and deescalate any problems that arise. We have more meetings on that coming soon. God bless both China and the USA!" Hegseth wrote on X.

The US Secretary of War said the two sides have agreed to strengthen communication and maintain stability in bilateral ties.

“I just spoke to President Trump, and we agree – the relationship between the United States and China has never been better. Following President Trump’s historic meeting with Chairman Xi in South Korea, I had an equally positive meeting with my counterpart, China’s Minister of Defense Admiral Dong Jun in Malaysia. And we spoke again last night," he said.

He said he and Dong agreed that “peace, stability, and good relations" are vital, adding Trump’s historic “G2 meeting" set the tone for lasting US-China peace and success.

“The Admiral and I agree that peace, stability, and good relations are the best path for our two great and strong countries. As President Trump said, his historic ‘G2 meeting’ set the tone for everlasting peace and success for the US and China," he said.

Earlier, Trump said his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was “a great one" and would bring lasting peace and success for both nations.

“My G2 meeting with President Xi of China was a great one for both of our countries. This meeting will lead to everlasting peace and success. God bless both China and the USA!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Referring to the trade pact between the two countries, which will be routinely extended, he told reporters aboard Air Force One: “We have a deal. Every year we’ll renegotiate the deal, but I think the deal will go on for a long time, long beyond the year. We’ll negotiate at the end of the year."

Later, he announced that China has committed to immediately purchasing “large and tremendous amounts" of soybeans and other US farm products as part of a deal between the two countries. During a gaggle aboard Air Force One following his departure to Washington, he hailed the decision as a “very nice gesture" from Xi, noting that his Chinese counterpart had authorised the purchase a day earlier.

“We’re in agreement on so many elements. Large amounts, tremendous amounts of the soybeans and other farm products are going to be purchased, starting immediately. If you notice, President Xi authorised yesterday for China to start buying very large quantities of soybeans and other things, which I appreciated. That was a very nice gesture," he said.

According to CNN, in May, China halted its purchases of US soybeans following Trump’s announcement of tariffs, leaving farmers nationwide with billions of dollars’ worth of unsold crops and prompting some to question the President’s policies.

(With agency inputs)

News world 'Deconflict, De-escalate': US, China Agree To Establish Military-To-Military Channels, Says Trump Aide

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