I mostly agree @Kamaji but even if there are protocols in place, the SUBSTANCE of any such calls must be approved by the CIC.
I agree, and giving the Chinese counterpart assurances that there will be no surprise attack goes beyond what I would expect to be the typical sort of communication on these calls. If it was an ordinary call, not requiring special review, there would be no need to give "special assurances". On the other hand, if "special assurances" were given, that conversation should have been approved by the CinC.
As I said, the crux of the issue is not that conversations were had, but the purpose of those conversations and the tenor of what was conveyed in those conversations.