US, China views differ on crisis prevention deal

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 1, 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the need for regular military dialogue and crisis communication between the U.S. and China, with China’s foreign ministry claiming the two militaries agreed to finalize a memorandum of understanding on crisis prevention soon after the summit. However, the U.S. denied that such an agreement was discussed, reflecting ongoing disagreements over how to formally manage military tensions and avoid conflicts.

Differences between the United States and China over how to prevent military conflicts may help explain contrasting accounts of discussions at last week’s summit, analysts say. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of regular military dialogue and improving mechanisms for crisis communication and prevention during a White House arrival ceremony.

Following the summit, China’s foreign ministry released a statement indicating that the militaries of both nations had agreed to finalize a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on crisis communication and prevention “as soon as possible.” The ministry listed the MOU separately from eight other “deliverables and understandings” reached at the summit but did not specify when or where the agreement was reached.

Neither the White House nor U.S. President Donald Trump publicly addressed the proposed crisis communication mechanisms or the existence of an MOU. The Beijing defense ministry declined to comment, and no senior Chinese military officials, including Minister of National Defence Dong Jun, accompanied Xi on his U.S. visit.

An unnamed U.S. official told the Financial Times that China’s claim regarding the MOU was inaccurate and had not been discussed during the summit.

Chinese analysts suggested that Beijing’s remarks may reflect ongoing efforts to build formal mechanisms following a broader framework on crisis prevention agreed upon by the two countries earlier this year. Hu Bo, director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, a Beijing-based think tank, said Xi’s call for enhanced crisis communication could be part of a vision to establish “a constructive relationship of strategic stability” between the nations. Hu emphasized the necessity of concrete measures to maintain stability if incidents occur.

According to Hu, the MOU could formalize existing understandings between the militaries aimed at conflict avoidance. He noted that military-to-military communication and risk management efforts have been ongoing through established channels. One such initiative, a crisis communication working group formed between the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense and China’s Office for International Military Cooperation, held its inaugural meeting via video conference in October 2020 but has not met since.

Retired People’s Liberation Army Senior Colonel Zhou Bo described the 2020 meeting as the first time crisis management was officially incorporated into China-U.S. military discussions, calling it “a bold step in the right direction.”

Additionally, the two militaries operate under a 2014 bilateral memorandum governing the safety of air and maritime encounters. The working group responsible for reviewing these rules last convened in Hawaii in May, focusing on their implementation and exploring measures to enhance maritime military safety.

Some analysts contend that the differences in Washington and Beijing’s accounts may stem from deeper disagreements over the scope and nature of crisis prevention measures, highlighting ongoing challenges in managing tensions between the two powers.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.