US Defense Secretary Robert Gates hopes to secure an agreement with China on creating a more stable military relationship during his visit to Beijing next week, Bloomberg reported. America proposed a set of six principles for improving relations – respect, trust, mutual interests, continuous dialogue, reducing risks and reciprocating with steps such as official exchanges – during talks at the Pentagon in December, according to Michael Schiffer, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia. Gates’ trip marks the restoration of defense ties that were severed by China a year ago over proposed US arms sales to Taiwan. There is growing concern in the US about China’s military buildup. Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in June that he was worried about the gap "between China’s stated intent and its military programs." On Wednesday, Global Times published the first state media report concerning images that have emerged of what appears to be a prototype Chinese stealth fighter.
Categories