US downplays tension with China
Beijing: United States is optimistic about military exchanges with China and wants deeper ties to help reduce the risk of miscalculation, a top US military officer said on Saturday.
US Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno told reporters in Beijing that he had had “frank, honest and important” talks with his Chinese counterpart on establishing deeper dialogue between the two armies.
China and United States have numerous diplomatic disagreements in the region, including China’s moves to assert sovereignty in the South and East China Sea and US support for self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by Beijing as a wayward province.
In December, a US guided missile cruiser operating in international waters in the South China Sea was forced to take evasive action to avoid a collision with a Chinese warship manoeuvring nearby.
While the East China Sea and China’s increasingly bitter dispute with Japan over ownership of a group of uninhabited islands there was not a major feature of his talks, Odierno said he emphasised the importance of dialogue.
“We reinforced the importance of dialogue and discussion between the Japanese and the Chinese regarding this issue,” he added.
Odierno said he expected more progress to be made on boosting military-to-military relations when US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visits China in April.
“There’s plenty of leeway for us to develop a strong, long-term relationship,” he said.
