China and the US appear to restart military talks despite disputes over Taiwan and South China Sea

BEIJING (AP) — China and the United States appear to be restarting dialogue between their militaries, despite continuing disputes over Beijing’s claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea. The U.S. says it will send Cynthia Carras, principal director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia to represent the Defense Department at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing this month. The international gathering hosted by the Chinese Defense Ministry aims to discuss security cooperation and raise China’s status as a global power and rival to the U.S. and its Asian allies, including Japan and South Korea. China froze military exchanges after former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi last August visited self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.