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High-ranking military officials from the United States and China met this week for the first extensive meeting since December 2021.

This gathering, known as the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement Working Group (MMCA), was notably timed, coinciding with a phone conversation between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Held in Honolulu, the MMCA forum was a two-day dialogue focusing on airspace and maritime operations.

The discussions aimed to address and mitigate potential misunderstandings in the region’s contested spaces. Army Col. Ian Francis, leading the US delegation, said it was critical to have “Open, direct, and clear communications with the PLA and with all other military forces in the region.”

Officials from both countries also examined incidents over recent years that have raised concerns over airspace safety and conduct. The United States has pointed out instances of what it describes as provocative and dangerous maneuvers by Chinese aircraft.