U.S. House Delegation Holds Defense Talks in Beijing

A bipartisan U.S. House delegation led by Representative Adam Smith met Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun in Beijing on Monday, marking the first House visit since 2019. The talks focused on restoring and expanding exchanges, with a particular emphasis on military-to-military communication.
Smith said the group wanted more frequent visits and to "open up the lines of communication," especially around military matters. Dong described the visit as a positive phase for China-U.S. communications and urged lawmakers to remove "interfering and restrictive factors" and adopt constructive, pragmatic measures to improve ties.
China's defence ministry said it is willing to build stable, respectful military relations while safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. The visit followed a recent phone call between Presidents Trump and Xi, who agreed to pursue further discussions at a forum in South Korea in October and to arrange reciprocal visits next year.
The delegation was also received by Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People. Officials said the trip breaks a post-COVID pause in formal House exchanges and aims to reduce tensions and prevent miscommunication.