The Chinese defence ministry said in a readout of the meeting that Dong told Hegseth the two sides should "enhance trust and dispel uncertainty", and called for "the two militaries to explore the right way to get along", a day after Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump met in South Korea.

The leaders did not discuss Taiwan on Thursday, Trump told reporters, but Dong told Hegseth the "unification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is an irresistible historical trend", according to the defence ministry readout.

"The US side should be cautious in its words and deeds on the Taiwan issue and take a clear-cut stance firmly opposing 'Taiwan independence'," Dong said.

China claims self-governing Taiwan as its territory. Under longstanding policy, the United States recognises only Beijing but provides weapons for the island's self-defence.