Military dialogue ‘best way’ to ease US-China tensions in South China Sea
- Communication channels remain open despite low point in relations, security forum hears
- ‘Cooperation will benefit both, confrontation will only lead to bad results’
With bilateral ties between China and the US at a historic low point, the two countries’ militaries should step up communication to ease escalating tensions, Chinese military delegates at a Beijing security forum said.
The delegates did not discuss the recent confrontations between Chinese and American navy vessels in the disputed South China Sea but stressed the importance of stabilising ties between the two militaries during a maritime security panel discussion at the two-day forum.
A source close to the organisers of the Xiangshan Forum said Beijing wanted to create a better atmosphere for Sino-US relations ahead of a possible meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Argentina next month.
The likelihood of talks between the two leaders is still in question.
Vice Admiral Liu Yi, deputy commander of the Chinese navy, said defence ministers of the two countries had reached a consensus to enhance communication in June, at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, another regional security forum.
“The two defence chiefs jointly expressed a desire to strengthen the relationship and cooperation between the two militaries as a ‘stabiliser’ for bilateral relations,” he told the Beijing forum.
