Pentagon chief Hegseth joins Trump in China to reset military ties
First US defense chief on state visit to China in decades seeks crisis management.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's rare presence in President Donald Trump's entourage to Beijing marks a significant diplomatic gesture and signals a mutual intent to strengthen military communications. Hegseth, who arrived on Air Force One, is the first American defense chief in decades to accompany a sitting president on a state visit to China. According to experts, this participation is likely to advance bilateral military communication mechanisms and crisis management. China is expected to respond by including Defense Minister Dong Jun in the summit, and a source suggested that Dong and Hegseth might hold separate negotiations on the sidelines of the Xi-Trump summit.
The agenda is expected to cover several contentious issues: U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, nuclear weapons policy, and the restoration and expansion of military-to-military communication channels. Analysts highlight that previous talks under the Trump administration had limited engagement, making this visit a potential turning point for de-escalation. Zhu Feng of Nanjing University noted that Hegseth's presence could lead to concrete mechanisms for avoiding crises. The summit follows a 2017 precedent where only a single PLA official attended, underscoring the elevated military focus this time. The outcome could reshape the trajectory of U.S.-China military relations.
- Pete Hegseth is the first U.S. defense chief to join a sitting president on a state visit to China in decades.
- Key topics include U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, nuclear weapons, and restoring military-to-military communication channels.
- China is expected to include Defense Minister Dong Jun in talks, possibly for separate negotiations alongside the summit.
Why It Matters
Signals potential de-escalation in US-China military tensions and revival of strategic crisis communication channels.