By Zhao Huaipu
After passing through a number of difficulties and setbacks and an 18-month suspension, Sino-US defense talks resumed on June 23 in Beijing. The strategic significance of the talks is increasing, both for the two sides and the world at large.
The annual defense talks began in 1997, and were aimed at building trust between China and the US, and furthering relations between the armed forces of the two countries. But talks were suspended in October 2008, after the Bush administration announced a US$6.5 billion arms deal with Taiwan.
In March this year, a US navy vessel conducted unauthorized activities in China's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, leading to a tense maritime standoff, and in June, a Chinese submarine hit an underwater sonar array being towed by a US warship in the South China Sea. These incidents reflect the complicated nature of the relationship between the two countries and their armed forces, and revealed the suspicious attitude toward China still harbored by certain forces in the United States, notably in the defense establishment.
As two major countries in the modern international system, China and the United States should preserve and enhance their bilateral dialogue on defense. This is not only necessary in order to improve the relationship between the two sides, but also to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.
The Chinese government has taken a consistently positive stance on Sino-US defense consultations. US high-level military officials have also been expressing their hopes for enhanced military exchanges since the Obama administration took office this year. It was in this context that Chinese President Hu Jintao met US President Barack Obama in London in April. The two presidents agreed on the resumption of Sino-US military dialogues and on a number of other security issues, and pledged to work to enhance mutual trust, communication and cooperation. On May 30, Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, met with US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at a three-day Asian Security Summit in Singapore. Another factor favoring the resumption of talks was the new round of nuclear tests carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
During two days of talks, the two sides exchanged views in a candid and practical way on issues of common concern, such as Taiwan, Asia-Pacific regional security, terrorism, the Korean Peninsula, and nuclear disarmament. It was agreed that senior military officers from both sides should make mutual visits before the end of the year, and that a special meeting on maritime issues will be held in Beijing before the end of 2009. The results of this round of talks have sent positive signals and opened the way to deepen cooperative and comprehensive Sino-US relations. This was an important meeting held at a crucial moment, in the early period of the Obama administration, and hopefully marks a new beginning for Sino-US defense exchanges and cooperation.
Nevertheless, because of the existing differences and lingering suspicions in certain quarters, China-US military relations remain difficult and have lagged behind other areas of bilateral cooperation. China and the United States should take substantive measures to remove the barriers that hinder the development of military relations.
According to Under-Secretary of Defense Michele Flournoy, who led the US delegation to the talks, "The United States considers China as an important partner, rather than a competitor." Her statement will have a positive impact on Sino-US relations in the new era.
Looking to the future, the two countries should continue to make joint efforts to develop their bilateral military relationship based on the principles of mutual respect, trust, reciprocity and mutual benefit, thereby promoting the development of positive, cooperative and comprehensive Sino-US relations.
Dr. Huaipu Zhao is a professor of International Studies of?China Foreign Affairs University
(China.org.cn translated by Ma Yujia, July 2, 2009)
