CHINESE Defence Minister Dong Jun met his US counterpart Lloyd Austin in Singapore today for more than an hour of talks.

Beijing and Washington are working to repair lines of communication between their two militaries as tensions between them continue to rise in the Indo-Pacific region.

The closed-doors meeting was the first in-person encounter between Mr Dong and Mr Austin since contacts between the US and Chinese militaries broke down in 2022 after then US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the breakaway Chinese province of Taiwan.

It took place on the sidelines of the Shangri-La defence forum, Asia’s premier security conference, which features military officials, government leaders and diplomats from around the world.

The conference is being held this weekend as wars rage in Gaza and Ukraine and international tensions mount.

To underscore its claim of a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” including the Taiwan Strait, the US has been ramping up military exercises with its allies in the region.

Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters that today’s bilateral meeting showed that the decline in military relations had now stabilised, ading that the resumption of direct communications was an important step forward.

“The communications between the two militaries aims to enhance understanding, eliminate misunderstanding, accumulate mutual trust and achieve stability in relations,” Mr Wu said.

Mr Austin, who is due to address the Shangri-La conference on Saturday, reiterated the US position to Mr Dong during their talks, according to Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder.

The Chinese defence minister will speak to the conference on Sunday.

Maj Gen Ryder said: “The secretary made clear that the US will continue to fly, sail and operate, safely and responsibly, wherever international law allows. 

“He underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea.”

Mr Austin reportedly told Mr Dong that the US remained committed to the one-China policy but “expressed concern” about Chinese military exercises in the area a week ago.

Tensions remain high after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s administration allowed an increase in the US military presence at more bases in his country under a 2014 defence pact.

This week, Mr Marcos expressed concerns over a new law authorising the Chinese coastguard to seize foreign ships “that illegally enter China’s territorial waters” and to detain foreign crews that break the law for up to 60 days.