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China, U.S. defense chiefs agree to boost military ties
Tuesday 11th January, 06:06 AM JST
BEIJING — The Chinese and U.S. defense chiefs agreed Monday to boost military exchanges and security talks, including the launch this year of a working group to study measures to develop military ties between the world’s two largest economies.
‘‘We are in strong agreement that in order to reduce the chances of miscommunication, misunderstanding or miscalculation, it is important that our military-to-military ties are solid, consistent and not subject to shifting political winds,’’ U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at a joint news conference with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie after their meeting in Beijing.
Gates, who arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a four-day trip, said he had proposed setting up a bilateral strategic dialogue to discuss nuclear strategy and missile defense.
Liang did not agree to the proposal, saying China will study it.
Gates had been scheduled to visit China in 2010, but his trip was postponed after Washington decided early that year to sell $6.4 billion worth of arms to Taiwan.
The Liang-Gates talks came ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the United States from Jan. 18 to 21.
‘‘Our two presidents, President Hu and President Obama, clearly believe that a normal military-to-military relationship is important,’’ Gates said at the start of the meeting. ‘‘And I will do everything in my power to ensure that we carry out their objective.’‘
Liang said the two countries’ militaries ‘‘need to work together to expand our shared interests to reduce our differences…to ensure that military relations between our two nations will progress along a sound and steady track.’‘
At the post-meeting news conference, Liang reiterated China’s opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, saying they jeopardize Beijing’s core interests.
Liang tried to ease U.S. concern about China’s military buildup, saying Beijing has developed weapons to ‘‘meet its sovereignty and security requirements.’‘
China still lags behind developed countries by ‘‘20 to 30 years’’ in terms of weaponry, he added.
Gates held separate talks with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Xu Caihou, a vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission.
Tuesday 11th January, 06:06 AM JST
BEIJING — The Chinese and U.S. defense chiefs agreed Monday to boost military exchanges and security talks, including the launch this year of a working group to study measures to develop military ties between the world’s two largest economies.
‘‘We are in strong agreement that in order to reduce the chances of miscommunication, misunderstanding or miscalculation, it is important that our military-to-military ties are solid, consistent and not subject to shifting political winds,’’ U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at a joint news conference with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie after their meeting in Beijing.
Gates, who arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a four-day trip, said he had proposed setting up a bilateral strategic dialogue to discuss nuclear strategy and missile defense.
Liang did not agree to the proposal, saying China will study it.
Gates had been scheduled to visit China in 2010, but his trip was postponed after Washington decided early that year to sell $6.4 billion worth of arms to Taiwan.
The Liang-Gates talks came ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the United States from Jan. 18 to 21.
‘‘Our two presidents, President Hu and President Obama, clearly believe that a normal military-to-military relationship is important,’’ Gates said at the start of the meeting. ‘‘And I will do everything in my power to ensure that we carry out their objective.’‘
Liang said the two countries’ militaries ‘‘need to work together to expand our shared interests to reduce our differences…to ensure that military relations between our two nations will progress along a sound and steady track.’‘
At the post-meeting news conference, Liang reiterated China’s opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, saying they jeopardize Beijing’s core interests.
Liang tried to ease U.S. concern about China’s military buildup, saying Beijing has developed weapons to ‘‘meet its sovereignty and security requirements.’‘
China still lags behind developed countries by ‘‘20 to 30 years’’ in terms of weaponry, he added.
Gates held separate talks with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Xu Caihou, a vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission.