© Reuters. U.S. Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti poses in an undated handout picture, obtained by Reuters on November 2, 2023. U.S. Division of Protection/Handout through REUTERS/ File Picture
By Greg Torode
HONG KONG (Reuters) – The U.S. Navy was “excited” by the prospect of improved operational communications with the Chinese language army amid regional tensions, however work was nonetheless wanted to solidify the subsequent steps, a senior U.S. naval officer mentioned on Friday.
Admiral Lisa Franchetti, U.S. Navy Chief of Operations, informed a media briefing throughout a go to to Seoul that it was very important to keep up open traces of communications between the 2 militaries to keep away from “misunderstandings and miscalculations” that would result in battle.
“I’m very excited and I welcome that announcement,” she mentioned of China’s settlement to renew phone communications between theatre instructions, one thing U.S. officers have been wanting to develop.
“These agreements were reached just recently, and we know that we have work with the PRC mil to do to solidify the next steps,” Franchetti mentioned.
Her remarks come after agreements this month by U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping to renew army contacts that Beijing froze after then-Home of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022.
The necessity for improved army communications was a part of 4 hours of discussions when the 2 leaders meet in San Francisco final week, talks that lined tensions over Taiwan, Iran and co-operation over lowering the stream to the opioid fentanyl to america.
