BEIJING: The China-United States military dialogue, which earlier suffered a setback due to the India-US nuclear deal and Washington's decision to sell arms to Taiwan, is set to begin again. The resumption of military talks by the Barack Obama administration has wide ranging implications for India and other countries in the region.
Going by initial reactions, the move has gladdened Chinese hearts. But the local leadership is keeping in fingers crossed on whether Hilary Clinton, the new US secretary of State, would once again raise issues concerning Tibet and human rights during her visit to Beijing on Friday. She had caused quite a storm by raising the issue of human rights at a Beijing meeting two years back.
A lot depends on the Clinton visit as it will be followed by the military dialogue on February 27 and 28. Clinton is also expected to seek Beijing's cooperation in resolving issues like the global financial crisis, regional security and climate change.
But a senior Chinese military expert has already expressed high hopes suggesting that the dialogue will go beyond military affairs to cover a much wider range of relationship.
"If one sees the dialogue from this perspective, it is not just about the military (because) it indicates that defense policies will play a vital role in bilateral ties in the near future," Rear Admiral Yang Yi, senior military expert with the University of National Defense, was quoted in the official media as saying. "The (Barack) Obama administration has set a positive tone to work with the mainland," he said.
Clinton, who is set to make her first official tour to North Asia, has already indicated she would make some gestures to please China on the Taiwan issue.
"And we look forward to improved relations across the Straits," Clinton told a gathering of Asia Society in New York recently.
Chinese defense ministry spokesman Hu Changming said that the dialogue will be informal. China pulled out of the dialogue when the former George Bush administration announced the sale of $6.5 billion worth of arms to Taiwan in the fact of protests from Beijing last October. China considers Taiwan as part of its own territory and resents any move by a foreign country to independently deal with it.
The upcoming talks will deal with the expansion of bilateral military cooperation and joint implementation of measures to address security concerns across the world, especially in East Asia, the official said. David Sedney, US assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, is expected to lead the US team at the talks.
Luo Yuan, a military expert with the Academy of Military Science, said Obama's decision to continue with Robert Gates as defense secretary, showed that the US and China have common interests in key areas.
"Since the security situation across the Straits has taken a significant and positive turn, the two militaries can discuss more far-reaching issues, including non-traditional security. It's a great time to start real dialogue," Luo was quoted in the official media as saying.
Soruce: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/China-to-have-military-talks-with-US/articleshow/4137828.cms
Going by initial reactions, the move has gladdened Chinese hearts. But the local leadership is keeping in fingers crossed on whether Hilary Clinton, the new US secretary of State, would once again raise issues concerning Tibet and human rights during her visit to Beijing on Friday. She had caused quite a storm by raising the issue of human rights at a Beijing meeting two years back.
A lot depends on the Clinton visit as it will be followed by the military dialogue on February 27 and 28. Clinton is also expected to seek Beijing's cooperation in resolving issues like the global financial crisis, regional security and climate change.
But a senior Chinese military expert has already expressed high hopes suggesting that the dialogue will go beyond military affairs to cover a much wider range of relationship.
"If one sees the dialogue from this perspective, it is not just about the military (because) it indicates that defense policies will play a vital role in bilateral ties in the near future," Rear Admiral Yang Yi, senior military expert with the University of National Defense, was quoted in the official media as saying. "The (Barack) Obama administration has set a positive tone to work with the mainland," he said.
Clinton, who is set to make her first official tour to North Asia, has already indicated she would make some gestures to please China on the Taiwan issue.
"And we look forward to improved relations across the Straits," Clinton told a gathering of Asia Society in New York recently.
Chinese defense ministry spokesman Hu Changming said that the dialogue will be informal. China pulled out of the dialogue when the former George Bush administration announced the sale of $6.5 billion worth of arms to Taiwan in the fact of protests from Beijing last October. China considers Taiwan as part of its own territory and resents any move by a foreign country to independently deal with it.
The upcoming talks will deal with the expansion of bilateral military cooperation and joint implementation of measures to address security concerns across the world, especially in East Asia, the official said. David Sedney, US assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, is expected to lead the US team at the talks.
Luo Yuan, a military expert with the Academy of Military Science, said Obama's decision to continue with Robert Gates as defense secretary, showed that the US and China have common interests in key areas.
"Since the security situation across the Straits has taken a significant and positive turn, the two militaries can discuss more far-reaching issues, including non-traditional security. It's a great time to start real dialogue," Luo was quoted in the official media as saying.
Soruce: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/China-to-have-military-talks-with-US/articleshow/4137828.cms
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