The Hindu : China, U.S. hold military talks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2004

International

International

China, U.S. hold military talks

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, FEB. 10. China and the United States today held a new round of defence consultations in Beijing. The sixth round talks are part of a process marked by ups and downs since they were launched in 1997. The Chinese side was led by Xiong Guangkai, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, while the U.S. Under Secretary of Defence, Douglas J. Feith, headed his country's delegation, it was announced in Beijing.

But authoritative details were not available until nightfall.

The overall political ambience was marked by the momentum generated by the recent visit to Beijing by Richard Myers, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. China indicated that Taiwan issue, with particular reference to the possible military aspects of a potential crisis, might be raised as part of defence consultations.

Begun in 1997 following an accord between the then Presidents of China and the U.S., Jiang Zemin and Bill Clinton, the current process of consultations came under a severe strain in the context of the collision between a U.S. naval plane and a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea in April 2001.

With the military-related bilateral exchanges having later improved considerably, today's discussions acquired significance in the evolving context that was defined by the comment that the U.S. President, George W. Bush, made on the Taiwan issue in the presence of the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, at the White House on December 9 last year. Mr. Bush called upon both Beijing and Taipei to refrain from making moves that might have the effect of changing the status quo as regards the political realities concerning Taiwan. Beijing has cautioned Washington against making any attempt to interfere in China's Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. China has also emphasised its willingness to explore the scope for constructive and cooperative ties with the U.S.

The U.S. and China sustained their diplomatic engagement on Iraq. Coincidentally, it was said in Beijing today that Zhongxing Telecom Co. had recently signed a contract with Iraq's Ministry of Communications as part of the `reconstruction' process there.

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