US, China held maritime security talks in Hawaii, Chinese Navy says

China has been steadily boosting air, naval and coast guard deployments around democratically-governed Taiwan, which it claims as its own. Taiwan's government rejects China's claims of sovereignty over the island.

The Pentagon has been pushing for improved communications with China over its military modernisation and regional posture, calling for greater transparency on its nuclear weapons build-up and more theatre-level discussions with military commanders. The working group will have a follow-up meeting in 2026, the statement said.

(Reporting by Laurie Chen; Editing by Tom Hogue)