US defense secretary questioned on mutual tensions

Officers at China’s National Defense University threw tough questions at US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Tuesday during his visit to discuss further development of bilateral military relations with China, Reuters reported. One officer accused the US of hampering Chinese development, highlighting the tension over China’s bitter territorial disputes with regional US allies. Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan called on the US to restrain ally Japan and chided another US ally, the Philippines. Hagel assured the audience that America had no interest in trying to “contain China” and that it took no position in such disputes.