It is noteworthy that over the years whenever there has been a rift in Sino-U.S. ties, bilateral military relations have always been the first to be affected and that even when bilateral relations are warming, military-to-military exchanges are usually the last to thaw.

With the unfolding of a series of reciprocal visits and dialogues between the two militaries this year, including former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ China visit in January; the first China-U.S. Strategic Security Dialogue in May; the trip to the United States in May by Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Chen Bingde; and the first China-U.S. Consultations on Asia-Pacific Affairs in June; China-U.S. military relations are gaining a healthy development momentum.

If Robert Gates’ China visit can be seen as an “ice-breaking trip,” after a year of stagnation in relations between the two militaries ― due to the U.S. approval of arms sales to Taiwan ― the visit of U.S. Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will further add to the normalization of bilateral military exchanges.

Mullen is concluding a four-day visit to China, the first by a chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs since 2007, reciprocating Chen Bingde’s visit to the U.S.

Mullen received a warm and high-level welcome when he arrived in Beijing on Sunday. Besides meeting with high-level government and military leaders, he is scheduled to visit China’s air force, army and navy as well as the PLA Second Artillery Force.

The current good momentum between the two militaries is a result of the implementation of the consensus reached between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on jointly building a China-U.S. partnership featuring mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

China has a positive and sincere attitude to promoting bilateral military ties, and it has consistently and clearly stated it pursues a path of peaceful development ― that is harmony and development at home and peace and cooperation abroad. However, China will never compromise over issues concerning its national sovereignty, security and core interests.

China will take this opportunity to show its military transparency and openness, but it will also express its opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan as well as concerns about the U.S.’ military presence in Asia, specifically its frequent joint military exercises with other navies in and near the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea, and its military operations in the airspace and waters of China’s exclusive economic zone.

It is our belief that under the guidance of the China-U.S. Joint Statement, which is based on respecting each other’s core interests and major concerns, the increase in the number of exchanges and conversations between top generals of the two militaries will help deepen mutual understanding and build mutual trust.

This is vital if the two militaries are to avoid miscalculations and conflicts, and is certainly in the interest of both countries in maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in Asia Pacific.

Editorial, China Daily

(Asia News Network)