The United States has been pushing China to work together to prevent miscommunication and to reestablish military hotlines to prevent an accident spiraling into crisis. This is particularly important in the South China Sea, where Beijing is engaged in standoffs with American allies like the Philippines.
Since then, Beijing has twice replaced its defense minister, and also cut off high-level military-to-military dialogue for 15 months in protest over a visit to Taiwan by then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Dong, a 62-year-old former head of the Chinese navy, was appointed in December, replacing Li Shangfu four months after Li abruptly disappeared from public view.
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