China and Singapore establish high-level defense hotline.

China and Singapore have agreed to establish a hotline between their defense leaders, which would create a high-level communications link between Beijing and a close American partner in Asia. The agreement comes at a time when tensions between China and the United States are high, and dialogue has stalled. Singapore is a close military and economic partner of the United States, and the agreement to establish the direct phone link comes as communications between Washington and Beijing are strained.