US, China re-open military exchanges

Monday, January 10, 2011

US, China re-open military exchanges

In Beijing the US Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with his Chinese counterpart, Minister of National Defence Liang Guanglie, at the start of a long-awaited visit to formally re-open military exchanges. 

In a press conference Gates spoke of the need for firmer ties between the militaries of the two countries, saying closer and more regular dialogue was necessary to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations that might lead to frictions or even conflict. 

One area where he spoke to allay Chinese fears was US naval exercises in the Yellow Sea: 

Before his visit to Beijing , Mr. Gates said that the Chinese had clearly the potential to put some of US capabilities at risk. 
The Chinese minister who expressed concern over US dealings in Taiwan, said China posed no threat to any third country and that it was decades behind nations with more advanced technology. 

Washington is also concerned about the Chinese military buildup , but Beijing says its defense spending is still far lower than that of the United States. 

China's defense budget for 2010 was 80.3 billion dollars whereas the US approved a $708 billion defense budget for 2011 fiscal year. 

In addition to American naval maneuvers, experts said the Chinese would likely use Gates's visit to press him on his country's support for Taiwan, as well as its position on Chinese claims to sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and the South China Sea. 
America, meanwhile, should have a different set of concerns. 
Two Chinese weapons programs discussed by the international media in recent weeks were the development of a stealth fighter and a so-called carrier killer which is capable of sinking an aircraft carrier from up to 1,800 miles away.