China, U.S. meet as tensions simmer

The Chinese Embassy disclosed Sunday that Chinese and US military officials held what it called a “productive” session in Hawaii from 18 to 20 November during the second working group meeting and annual session of the China-US Military Maritime Consultative Agreement for 2025.

The announcement came as the White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump would skip the G20 Summit in South Africa — a gathering attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who continues to deepen Beijing’s influence across the African continent.

Citing a Xinhua report that quoted the Chinese Navy, the Embassy said the Hawaii exchanges were conducted “based on equality and respect,” with both sides having a “candid and constructive” discussion on maritime and aerial security.

Delegates reviewed recent air and sea encounters, assessed compliance with the Rules of Behavior for Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters, and discussed ways to reduce tension between the two militaries.

Both sides also proposed topics for their 2026 meeting, noting that the MMCA mechanism has helped frontline forces interact “more professionally and safely,” reducing misunderstandings and managing risks, according to the statement.

During the talks, Chinese officials reiterated opposition to what they described as actions taken under the pretext of freedom of navigation or overflight that they claim threaten China’s sovereignty and security.

They also denounced what they called “infringement, provocation, or close-in reconnaissance” targeting China. Beijing vowed to “resolutely uphold national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests” in accordance with its laws.