China Extends Olive Branch to Washington, Seeks to Bolster Military Ties

China's Defense Ministry said Thursday it wants to build stronger military ties with the United States, signaling potential cooperation between the world's two largest military powers despite ongoing tensions over trade, Taiwan, and regional security issues.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang told reporters that Beijing hopes Washington will work together to create "equal, fair, peaceful and stable" military relations between the two nations.

This comes at a time when US-China military communications have been strained. The two countries have clashed over everything from naval operations in the South China Sea to arms sales to Taiwan. Military-to-military dialogue often gets suspended during diplomatic disputes, leaving both sides with fewer ways to prevent misunderstandings that could escalate into conflicts.

For investors and defense contractors, improved military relations could mean more predictable regional security conditions. But it could also signal reduced tensions that might affect defense spending priorities in both countries and among their allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

The timing matters. Both nations have been rebuilding diplomatic contacts after a period of particularly cold relations. Recent high-level visits and resumed communications suggest both Beijing and Washington see value in keeping military channels open, even when they disagree on major policy issues.

Whether this leads to concrete cooperation remains unclear. Past attempts at military partnership have often stalled when broader political tensions flare up. But maintaining dialogue helps both sides manage their rivalry without letting it spiral into something more dangerous.