US, China to expand military exchanges despite sea row
Countries try to build more stable ties
The United States and China agreed on Monday to expand military exchanges and exercises as part of efforts to build more stable ties, despite tensions over cybersecurity and East Asian territorial disputes.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel and Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan spelled out plans this year for senior American officers to visit China, counter-piracy drills in waters near Somalia and a humanitarian rescue exercise near Hawaii.
Their talks at the Pentagon represent efforts by Washington and Beijing to find constructive ways to deal with strains over reported Chinese cyberattacks against US government agencies and businesses. There are also growing concerns about China’s assertiveness in territorial disputes with US allies in Asia, notably Japan and the Philippines.
Hagel said he and Chang wanted to build “a sustained, substantive military-to-military relationship” to bolster ties between the world’s two biggest economies.
Our goal is to build trust between our militaries through cooperation
“Our goal is to build trust between our militaries through cooperation,” Hagel told reporters.
