US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to his Chinese counterpart for the first time since taking office.

Austin, who calls China the top long-term challenge for the US military, has requested a phone call with Defense Secretary Gen. Wei Fenghe after months of unsuccessful attempts to speak with CMC Chairman General Xu Qiliang, AP reported.

According to the agency, Austin wanted to talk to Qiliang because the latter has more influence than Wei Fenghe. But Beijing insisted that protocol be respected and that Austin speak with Feng, who is his counterpart as defense minister but is below Qiliang and has less military operational influence.

Austin's predecessors used to talk to Fenghe.

Austin did not expect major breakthroughs on key issues following a conversation with a Chinese counterpart, a senior Defense Department official said.

He envisioned the conversation, which lasted about 45 minutes, as a follow-up to President Joe Biden's March 18 video call with President Xi Jinping, in which he outlined the harsh consequences the Chinese would face if they provided military or economic assistance to Russia.