Dempsey seeks stronger US-China military links
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail CNTV, April 23, 2013
The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, is in China for a four-day official visit. He’s met his counterpart, Fang Fenghui. The two sides have expressed the importance of establishing a new type of military relations, which China interprets as equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Dempsey has promised to advance ties between the two armies.
The highest military protocol for the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
General Martin Dempsey, is welcomed by his Chinese counterpart Fang Fenghui.
The visit is aimed at expanding trust and understanding, among the newly appointed military officials on both sides.
Fang Fenghui said China is willing to work with the US to address military relations within the framework of building a cooperative partnership. The presidents of China and the US have called for shaping a new type of relations. Key to this is respecting each other’s core interests.
Dempsey says it’s important to push the construction of solid US-China military ties and keep moving forward.
His visit comes a week after US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Dempsey’s visit also comes amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The US wants China to play a bigger role in supporting Washington to put more pressure on Pyongyang, while China says all parties involved should exercise restraint and seek dialogue.
Another focus is the US stance in the territorial dispute between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands. Washington says it does not take a position, but it also says that the islands are under the protection of the US-Japan Security Treaty.
Washington’s focus shift to the Asia-Pacific region has raised China’s concerns about US military intentions. The US seems to be playing a balancing act between containment and engagement with China.
But despite differences on a number of issues, the two armies have reached the consensus to build more stable relations in the long run.
Han Bin, CCTV Reporter, said,“General Dempsey’s visit is seen as a new sign of improved relations between the two armies. Both sides say they’re willing to establish a new type of relationship, one in which they treat each other as cooperative partners, rather than competitive adversaries. Yet it’s still far from clear, how much influence stronger military ties, will actually have on overall Sino-US relations.”
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)