Yang-Paparo Meeting: First Direct Contact Between Commanders in Taiwan Scenario

The Chinese military commander responsible for any operation against Taiwan met his American counterpart for the first time on September 4. General Yang Zhibin, head of the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command, sat down with Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, at the 28th Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference in Canada.

This meeting marks a significant development as it represents direct contact between the commanders who would actually be directing forces in a Taiwan scenario. The two leaders have been observing increased PLA activities around Taiwan, with Admiral Paparo previously describing them as 'rehearsals' for forced unification.

In May 2024, Admiral Paparo assumed command of INDOPACOM and has publicly expressed concerns about recent Chinese actions. He reported witnessing 152 Chinese vessels at sea in a single day in 2024.

The thaw in relations between the US and China began after the November 2023 summit between President Biden and President Xi Jinping, where both leaders advocated for reducing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.