Generals from the U.S. and China met quietly on Wednesday for security talks on how their countries’ militaries might coordinate in the event of a crisis.
The low-profile talks held in Washington, which were reported by The Associated Press, came shortly after North Korea conducted its latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), its first such launch in more than two months and its most advanced to date.
The Pentagon said the talks had been scheduled long before North Korea’s most recent missile test, according to the AP. Officials also said the meeting was not focused on any particular topic, including North Korea.
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“The engagement will serve as an opportunity to discuss how to manage crises, prevent miscalculations, and reduce the risk of misunderstanding,” Gen. Joseph Dunford’s office said in a statement to the AP. Dunford is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The U.S. and China agreed on the talks in August when Dunford traveled to Beijing to meet with his Chinese counterpart. The discussion on Wednesday was the first in a series of planned talks between the two countries.
As North Korea has made significant advances in its nuclear and missile programs in recent months, China has appeared more willing to discuss how Beijing and Washington would handle a potential crisis in the region, the AP reported.
In the wake of North Korea’s latest missile test, Trump spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the matter. He vowed to implement “additional major sanctions” on Pyongyang as a result of the launch.