GVI Holds Third U.S.-China Strategic Security and Stability Dialogue

On December 16–17, 2025, the Grandview Institution(GVI), in cooperation with the UK-based international mediation organization Inter Mediate(IM), convened the third U.S.-China Strategic Security and Stability Dialogue (Track II). Experts from China and the United States engaged in in-depth and candid discussions on a range of issues, including the current state of China–U.S. relations, traditional nuclear deterrence, the implications of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence for nuclear security, as well as crisis prevention and management.

Chinese and U.S. experts broadly agreed that it is both necessary and timely for the two countries to engage in dialogue on strategic security and stability. Participants suggested that multilateral discussions could also be explored within the framework of the P5 mechanism, complemented by bilateral and trilateral exchanges. It was proposed that such engagement could begin with Track II dialogues, which could help create favorable conditions and identify substantive agendas for future Track I and Track 1.5 dialogues. Both sides emphasized that China and the United States should seize the important window of opportunity in 2026, when bilateral relations may see improvement, to advance cooperation in strategic domains. Possible areas include promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy, jointly preventing nuclear proliferation in specific regions, and strengthening cooperation to combat nuclear terrorism. Experts noted that China and the United States share common interests in these areas and called for bold exploration of pathways and scope for nuclear cooperation that move beyond a paradigm of nuclear confrontation.

The dialogue was co-chaired by Claire Hajaj, President of IM, and James Chau, President of the China–United States Exchange Foundation(CUSEF). Ren Libo, President of GVI; Zhang Yi, Senior Research Fellow at GVI; Natasha Groom, Programme Director at IM; and Julien Chatel, Programme Manager at IM, attended the meeting, along with observers from the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament and the China Academy of Engineering Physics.

U.S. participants included:

1. Stephen Biegun, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State

2. Mike Mullen, former Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and retired U.S. Navy Admiral

3. Rose Gottemoeller, former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security and the first female Deputy Secretary General of NATO

4. James O. Ellis, Jr., former Commander of U.S. Strategic Command and retired U.S. Navy Admiral

Chinese participants included:

1. Jia Qingguo, Standing Committee member Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Professor at Peking University

2. Shen Dingli, Director of the U.S. Studies Center at GVI and Professor Emeritus at Fudan University

3. Sun Xiangli, Deputy Director and Research Fellow at the Strategic Studies Center of the China Academy of Engineering Physics

4. Zhou Bo, former Director of the Security Cooperation Center of the Office for International Military Cooperation of Central Military Commission and Senior Colonel (ret.)