Agence France-Presse,
BEIJING: China has called on the United States to ease military tensions between the global powers, as the two sides resumed defence talks here following a rift over planned US arms sales to Taiwan.
The talks had raised hopes of cooperation on security issues and dialogue on long-standing tensions, four months after China cut off military exchanges in anger over the proposed 6.5-billion-dollar US arms package to Taiwan.
China's offer to once again hold the annual talks was widely seen as an olive branch extended to the new administration of US President Barack Obama.
But the head of the Chinese delegation appeared to signal a bold tone in his opening remarks, emphasising that there were problems between the two sides and it was up to the United States to fix them.
“China-US military relations remain in a difficult period. We expect the US side to take concrete measures for the resumption and development of our military ties,” Qian Lihua, co-chair of the talks and defence ministry press director, said in comments quoted by the state-run Xinhua news agency.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence David Sedney headed the US delegation, which had signalled its hopes for engaging with China's military.
“This year's talks will address the US-China military-military relations, challenges to regional and global security and potential areas for expanding cooperation between the two militaries,” a US embassy spokeswoman said.
Despite the resumption, Sino-US military relations remain marked by deep tension and mistrust over each side's motives.
The situation of Taiwan, a democratically ruled island claimed by China, remains one of the most sensitive issues.
The planned US arms package that derailed military exchanges four months ago could still go ahead, and if it is carried out, Taiwan will receive advanced weaponry including 30 Apache attack helicopters and 330 Patriot missiles.
However Taiwan appears to be less of an obstacle to Sino-US military exchanges, with the island now ruled by a relatively China-friendly president who is far less likely than his predecessor to push for independence.
Aside from Taiwan, mistrust has grown as China has poured money into modernising its armed forces in recent years, fuelling concerns in the United States that it plans to project its power more boldly in the region.
The talks are taking place just days before China unveils its military budget for 2009, likely announcing yet another large increase in defence spending.
The United States and its allies have repeatedly accused China of not being transparent with its military spending.
Xinhua said in a commentary this week that military dialogue between the two nations was in the long-term interest of both sides, and the world.
“In an era that demands more cooperation to safeguard regional and global peace and stability… enhanced exchanges in defence affairs will benefit the growth of ties between the two countries and their militaries,” it said.
“(China and the US) agree in addition that cooperation also will help maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.”
Foreign media access to the talks was restricted but US officials were to hold a press roundtable on Saturday.
The talks, which began in 1997, were last held in February 2008.
