TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 08-229 

________________________________________________________________________ 

TELECOMMUNICATION 

Defense Telephone Link 

 Agreement Between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and CHINA 

Signed at Shanghai February 29, 2008 
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966 

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued 

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent 

 evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than 

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and 

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime 

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the 

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof 

or authentication thereof.” 
CHINA 

Telecommunication: Defense Telephone Link 

 Agreement signed at Shanghai February 29, 2008; 

 Entered into force February 29, 2008. 

 
AGREEMENT ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECURE

DEFENSE TELEPHONE LINK BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF

DEFENSE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND

THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, THE PEOPLE'S

REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The Department of Defense of the United States of America

(hereinafter referred to as "the U.S. Side") and the Ministry of National

Defense of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "the

Chinese Side"), with a view towards improving conununications to enhance

the relationships between them, have reached the following agreement to

establish a secure Defense Telephone Link between Washington, D.C. and

Beijing:

Article One

The U.S. Side and the Chinese Side will establish, on the basis of

reciprocity, the secure Defense Telephone Link (hereinafter referred to as

DTL) for secure voice communications between the two Sides.

Article Two

The intended locations of the secure Defense Telephone Link

terminals will be Zhongnanhai Telecommunications Directorate in Beijing,

People's Republic of China, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense

Communications in Washington, D.C., United States of America. The

Zhongnanhai Telecommunications Directorate will operate and maintain the

DTL (including extension from Zhongnanhai to the Bayi Building and the

Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense) for the Chinese

Side. The Office of the Secretary of Defense Communications will operate

and maintain the DTL for the U.S. Side.
Article Three

The following guidelines and rules will apply to the operation of the

DTL:

1. Official exchanges between the Chinese Minister of National

Defense and U.S. Secretary of Defense are the primary purpose intended for

the DTL; however, the DTL may be used for communications between other

defense officials, by mutual agreement, but not to interfere with the primary

purpose stated above.

2. The following procedures should provide for continuous and

uninterrupted capacity of DTL operations:

a. The Side initiating a request for an official call should provide 48

hours notice of the call and the topics for discussion.

b. Both Sides should reach an understanding on the calling time

through appropriate diplomatic and military channels and initiate

coordination and preparation for the call.

c. In case of a crisis situation, either Side may waive the 48-hour

notice and request an immediate official exchange through an initial

working-level call.

3. Both Sides shall communicate with each other through the DTL

mainly on the following topics and subjects:

a. Any emergency between the armed forces of the United States and

China.

b. Major events regarding U.S. and Chinese armed forces.

c. Important issues regarding U.S-China military-to-military exchange

programs.

4. If interpretation is needed, interpretation service will be provided

by both Sides through respective extension equipment connected to the DTL

and according to established interpretation procedures. Each Side should

provide interpretation services, as required.
Article Four

1. A Line of Communication (LOC), using U.S.-provided Secure

Terminal Equipment (STE) devices, will enable both Sides to conduct

secure voice communications through Integrated Service Digital Network

(ISDN). The U.S. Side will lend at no cost to the Chinese Side, two STE

encryption devices (one set for operation, the other as a spare), together with

the necessary keying materials.

2. A Line of Communication (LOC), using Chinese-provided R_X-11

encryption devices, will also enable both Sides to conduct secure voice

communications through Integrated Service Digital Networks (ISDN). The

Chinese Side will lend at no cost to the U.S. Side, two RX-11 encryption

devices (one set for operation, the other as a spare), together with the

necessary keying materials.

3. The Chinese Side will provide the local extension connection from

Zhongnanhai Telecommunications Directorate to the Bayi Building, and to

the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense in Beijing.

The U.S. Side will provide the local extension connection within the Office

of the Secretary of Defense Communications.

4. The Side initiating test calls and official exchange calls will be

responsible for the cost incurred.

5. A 24-hour non-secure telephone link will be established for timely

coordination on expected user calls.

6. The two Sides will establish implementation dates, based upon

successful operational testing of the DTL, using the U.S. -provided STE

encryption devices and, in turn, the Chinese-provided RX-11 encryption

devices.

Article Five

The authorized agencies of both Sides may convene meetings, as
required, between technical experts to address issues regarding the operation

of the DTL terminals, maintenance of related equipment, and circuit

performance.

Article Six

The authorized agencies of the two Sides will conclude technical

arrangements to facilitate the operation and maintenance of the DTL.

Article Seven

The authorized agencies of the two Sides will maintain and manage

the DR according to any technical arrangements and take measures

necessary to ensure the unimpeded operation of the LOC within each Side's

respective country. Should malfunction of the LOC occur, the authorized

agencies of the two Sides will, according to the technical arrangements,

contact each other to resolve operational deficiencies.

Article Eight

Both Sides agree that the encryption devices, keying materials, and

related information of the LOC will not be transferred or disclosed to a third

party and will take necessary measures to protect against the divulgence of

information transmitted through the LOC.

Both Sides agree that information obtained as a result of this

Agreement will not be provided to a third party without the written consent

of the other Side. Neither Side will avail itself of the information obtained to

undermine the national interests of the other Side.

Article Nine

Any differences in the interpretation of application of this Agreement

shall be resolved through consultation.
Article Ten

After this Agreement is signed, the two Sides will coordinate relevant

technical requirements and sign a technical protocol.

Article Eleven

This Agreement enters into force upon signature by both Sides. Either

Side may notify the other side of its intent to terminate this Agreement by

giving written notice through the diplomatic channel six months in advance

of the termination.

Done in duplicate in Shanghai, on February 29th , 2008, in the English

and Chinese languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For and on behalf of

The Department of Defense

United States of America

For and on behalf of

The Ministry of National Defense

People's Republic of China

Note: At the present time, the Treaty Office does not have the Chinese text of this Agreement. If the Chinese text becomes available, it will be added to this publication.