China, Japan Defense Chiefs Hold First Call on Military Hotline

What’s new: China and Japan’s top defense officials held their inaugural phone call using a direct hotline set up under a communication channel known as the maritime and air liaison mechanism, as the two sides seek to maintain regional stability.

The Tuesday call between Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his Japanese counterpart Yasukazu Hamada marks the beginning of the operational use of the hotline after it was officially established on March 31.