China-Japan Defense Ministers' 'Hotline' Communication... "Implementation of Summit"

First Use of Hotline Established at the End of Last Year

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu communicated with Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu through the 'hotline' agreed upon at last year's bilateral summit between the two countries' leaders.

On the 16th, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced via its WeChat channel, China's version of KakaoTalk, that Minister Li used the 'China-Japan Defense Maritime and Air Contact Mechanism' for the first time to exchange views with Minister Hamada regarding bilateral relations in the defense sector.

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense stated, "The establishment and operation of the direct telephone line is a practical measure to implement the important agreement between the two countries' leaders," adding, "It will help strengthen both sides' maritime and air crisis management capabilities and further safeguard peace and stability in the region."

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio agreed at their November summit last year to promptly establish a hotline between the defense authorities of the Chinese military and the Japan Self-Defense Forces to prevent accidental clashes. Accordingly, both sides set up the hotline at the end of March. Previously, communication was conducted through on-site units of aircraft and vessels.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.