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Jan 12, 2024 • 4 min read

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Middle East Escalation’s
U.S.-China Military Talks

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Middle East Escalations:

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported an attack by the Iranian-backed Houthis on international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden. On January 11, around 2 a.m. Sanaa time, the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen, which was observed impacting the water by a commercial vessel. Fortunately, no injuries or damage were reported. This incident marks the 27th such attack by the Houthis on international shipping since November 19.
In response, CENTCOM forces, along with allies from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain, conducted joint strikes targeting Houthi facilities in Yemen. These operations aimed to diminish the Houthis' ability to continue their attacks on U.S. and international vessels in the Red Sea. The strikes focused on disabling radar and air defense systems, as well as destroying storage and launch sites for various offensive weapons.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, the USCENTCOM Commander, condemned these actions by the Houthis and their Iranian sponsors. He emphasized that these attacks, which have affected 55 nations and endangered hundreds of mariners, including Americans, are illegal and pose a significant threat to international security. The U.S. Secretary of Defense also issued a statement confirming that the strikes were a direct response to the Houthis' unlawful and destabilizing activities, supported by Iran.

U.S.-China Talks:

This week, senior U.S. and Chinese military officials convened at the Pentagon to discuss defense relations between the two countries. The meeting, a two-day event, marked the resumption of the U.S.-China Defense Policy Coordination Talks, which were last held in September 2021 and are the first in-person discussions since January 2020. The U.S. delegation was led by Michael S. Chase, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, and hosted Chinese Army Maj. Gen. Song Yanchao.
The talks aimed to establish an agenda for future U.S.-China exchanges for the rest of the year. U.S. defense officials emphasized the significance of these discussions in reestablishing communication channels between the two military powers. The meeting served as a platform to address regional and global security issues. Chase stressed the need for operational safety in the region and reiterated the U.S.'s commitment to lawful international operations.
He also highlighted the U.S.'s dedication to its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific and globally. The resumption of these talks follows concerns about China's previous reluctance to engage in defense dialogues with U.S. military leaders. This recent development is a result of President Joe Biden's November meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where an agreement was reached to restart military-to-military dialogues.
Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also held discussions with his Chinese counterpart, marking further progress in reestablishing military communication. A U.S. official noted that while these meetings are positive steps, more efforts are needed to fully restore normal military communication to prevent escalating competition into conflict.

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