US-China Military Maritime Consultative Meeting Concludes in Hawaii Amidst Efforts to Enhance Safety

US-China Military Consultations Held in Hawaii

The Chinese and U.S. militaries convened their second working group meeting and annual session of the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) in Hawaii from November 18 to 20, 2025. The discussions, described by both sides as 'candid and constructive', aimed to enhance maritime and aerial security between the two nations' forces.

Purpose of the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement

Established in 1998, the MMCA serves as a crucial mechanism for military-to-military engagement between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the United States. Its primary objective is to promote common understandings regarding the activities of their respective maritime and air forces, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and incidents at sea and strengthening overall military maritime safety. The agreement provides an operator-level forum for discussing issues of maritime safety. The talks are held semi-annually, with the first working group meeting for 2025 having taken place in Shanghai in April.

Key Discussions and Outcomes

During the three-day meeting, delegations from both militaries engaged in extensive discussions on the current maritime and aerial security situation. Key topics included:

• Reviewing typical cases of encounters at sea and in the air.
• Evaluating the implementation of the 'Rules of Behavior for Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters'.
• Discussing measures to improve maritime military security between the two countries.
• Exchanging ideas for the agenda of the 2026 working group meeting.

Both sides acknowledged that the MMCA mechanism plays a vital role in enabling frontline forces to interact more professionally and safely, which helps to reduce misunderstandings, avoid misjudgments, and manage potential risks. The U.S. delegation included officials from the Indo-Pacific Command, Pacific Fleet, Pacific Air Forces, and the Coast Guard.

Points of Contention and Chinese Stance

Despite the constructive nature of the talks, the Chinese side reiterated its firm opposition to any actions, particularly those conducted under the pretext of 'freedom of navigation or overflight', that it perceives as jeopardizing China's sovereignty and security. China also voiced strong opposition to any infringement, provocation, or close-in reconnaissance activities targeting its territory. This stance reflects ongoing tensions, particularly concerning areas like the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. In a previous meeting, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had raised concerns regarding Chinese military activity in these regions with his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun.