Pentagon officials say military communication with China is at its strongest level in years. Senior U.S. and Chinese defense officials have engaged in a series of talks aimed at restoring regular military dialogue after a period of strained relations. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby met with Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu at the Pentagon on July 23, one of several recent contacts between the two governments. Colby wrote on X that under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s leadership the United States deals with Chinese counterparts in a spirit of respect, candor, and realism. Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for China, Taiwan and Mongolia Alvaro Smith told an audience at the Chinese Embassy in Washington that communication between the two militaries is stronger than it has been in years, adding that the department is actively repairing a once broken military‑to‑military channel and making clear, steady progress. Smith said the United States does not seek conflict with China and wants a peaceful, respectful bilateral relationship, emphasizing a new approach built on candid, respectful, clear conversations with genuine interest in de‑escalation while advancing U.S. priorities. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng welcomed the recent improvement but warned that significant disagreements remain, describing Taiwan, democracy, human rights, China’s political system and development rights as four red lines that Washington should not challenge. The renewed contacts follow more than a decade of deteriorating relations over China’s military buildup, cyber activities, alleged intellectual property theft, pressure on Taiwan and assertive operations around U.S. Indo‑Pacific allies. Analyst Paul Buchanan noted that the Trump administration’s tougher stance on China may have created room for limited military cooperation, saying power respects power and that demonstrating political resolve through trade measures can open the door to better military‑to‑military engagement. Buchanan added that while the improved contacts do not signal an end to the strategic rivalry, increased communication can help reduce the risk of escalation along the more contentious edges of the bilateral relationship.