Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held a video call with his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in which both sides exchanged positions on the bilateral relationship and security issues.

According to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Defense published on Wednesday night, Dong affirmed that the presidents of both countries attach “great importance” to link between their Armed Forces and defended that we must move towards a relationship of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and positive stability.”

The Chinese minister also warned that “the complete reunification of China is an unstoppable historical trend” and that any attempt to “use Taiwan to contain China” will be defeated.

He added that Beijing opposes “provocations” in the South China Sea and stressed that his country “will focus on its development, but will firmly defend its legitimate interests.”

US claimed to have “vital interests in the Asia-Pacific”

For its part, the Pentagon reported in a statement that Hegseth made it clear that the United States “does not seek conflict with China or pursue regime change,” although he reiterated that his country has “vital interests in the Asia-Pacific” and that it will defend them “with determination.”

According to Washington, the conversation was “frank and constructive” and both ministers agreed to maintain future contacts.

The call is part of a series of high-level contacts between diplomats and defense officials from both countries in recent weeks, with the aim of stabilizing relations and paving the way for a possible meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, following up on the meeting they held in Malaysia in July.

These gestures seek to strengthen communication around strategic and security issues in a context of tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea.