China, US forces hold ‘constructive’ meeting — embassy

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Sunday revealed that its military and the United States had a productive meeting during the second working group meeting and annual session of the China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) for 2025 from 18 to 20 November in Hawaii.

The same day, the White House announced that US President Donald Trump would not join the G20 Summit in South Africa, which was attended by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the latter seeks to expand its growing influence in the African continent and position itself as an alternative to the dangers of a unilateralist United States.

The Embassy, quoting a report from Xinhua, which also quoted Chinese Navy in a statement, said the exchanges were conducted based on equality and respect, and had a candid and constructive exchange of views primarily on maritime and aerial security situations of China and the United States.

The Embassy said the two military superpowers “reviewed typical cases of encounters at sea and in the air, evaluated the execution of the Rules of Behavior for Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters, and tackled measures to improve maritime military security between the two countries.”

Moreover, the US and Chinese militaries exchanged ideas on topics for the 2026 working-group meeting, with both sides agreeing that the MMCA mechanism has helped frontline forces of the two militaries interact more professionally and safely, reduce misunderstandings, avoid misjudgments, and manage risks, the statement said.

During the meeting, the Chinese side reiterated its firm opposition to any actions carried out under the pretext of freedom of navigation or overflight that could jeopardize China's sovereignty and security.

“It also firmly opposed any infringement, provocation, or close-in reconnaissance targeting China, the statement said, adding that the Chinese side will continue to resolutely uphold national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with laws and regulations, and safeguard regional peace, stability, and prosperity,” the report said.

The Embassy, meanwhile, was asked by the DAILY TRIBUNE about the implications and message of the said meeting to other nations, but it has not yet responded to the query.

Chinese military and maritime forces, for several years, have been bullying Philippine forces in the West Philippine Sea, which was condemned by other nations, particularly the United States, a close ally of the Philippines.