China, US To Begin Military Talks, Signaling Possible De-escalation—Beijing Urges 'America First' In Nuclear Disarmament

The Chinese government is making efforts towards early stage discussions with the U.S. military, a move that could signal an easing of the recent tensions.

What Happened: China’s Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian announced the preliminary plans for talks during a regular briefing in Beijing, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. While details are still sparse, Wu announced that further details will be shared soon.

"It is hoped that China-U.S. military-to-military relations get off to a good start and continue to grow further," stated the spokesperson.

On Feb 13, President Donald Trump expressed his intentions of nuclear arms control talks with China and Russia, as well as suggested that all three countries must cut their defense budgets by half. Trump stated that "de-nuclearize" is a "beautiful term." “…there’s no reason for us to be spending almost $1 trillion on the military,” the U.S. President emphasized.

In response to this, Wu Qian said, “I believe that the United States should put into practice ‘America First’ in this regard, and be the first to cut its nuclear arsenal and military expenditure,” according to a report by Xinhua News.

At the same time, Wu reaffirmed China’s commitment to a no-first-use policy on nuclear weapons, emphasizing its self-defensive nuclear strategy and maintaining its nuclear capabilities at the minimal level necessary for national security.

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Why It Matters: Wu’s announcement comes on the heels of Trump’s return as the U.S. President and amid escalating tensions between the two countries over issues such as semiconductor access, investment, and tariffs.

The proposed talks could potentially alleviate some of these conflicts. Responding to the Trump administration’s initial moves, China has strategically targeted U.S. products with tariffs, while also indicating that it has additional measures at its disposal to affect American companies if necessary.

That being said, Beijing and Washington seem eager to keep their differences from escalating further. President Trump has even hinted at a possible trade deal with China and expressed his interest in speaking with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

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