Enhanced trust can spur ties, defense chief tells US

Minister of National Defense Dong Jun told his United States counterpart on Friday that China remains committed to peaceful development and meanwhile, is fully capable of responding "confidently and effectively" to infringement and provocation, according to China's Ministry of National Defense.

The defense chief made the remarks in his talks with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Malaysia on Friday morning, according to a news release by the ministry.

Dong said that President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump held a successful meeting in South Korea, providing strategic guidance for the next stage of stable development in China-US relations, as Xi noted that the two countries can achieve mutual success and common prosperity.

The minister told Hegseth that the defense departments of both countries should translate the leaders' consensus into concrete actions and enable high-level strategic communication to play an exemplary and catalytic role.

Dong called for stronger policy-level communication to "enhance trust and dispel misgivings", more positive interactions among frontline personnel, and support from military academies, scholars and strategists to help the two militaries find the right way to get along.

Such efforts, Dong stressed, are targeted at building a bilateral military relationship featuring equality and respect, peaceful coexistence, stable, positive development, and providing aligned support for the overall steady development of bilateral relations between the two nations.

The Chinese defense chief also urged the US side to speak and act with prudence on the Taiwan question. He said that cross-Strait reunification is an "unstoppable trend of history", urging the US to oppose "Taiwan independence" unequivocally.

The senior defense official highlighted that China remains committed to peaceful development while resolutely safeguarding national security interests, and is fully capable of responding "confidently and effectively" to infringement and provocation.

Dong also expressed the hope that the US will match its words with deeds on not containing China and not seeking conflict, and work with China to inject positive energy into regional and global peace and security.

The two sides also exchanged views on other issues, the release said, without revealing more details.

jiangchenglong@chinadaily.com.cn