PLA: Gates visit tied to timing
Source: Xinhua |
July 2, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A SENIOR Chinese general said yesterday China will welcome a visit by US defense chief Robert Gates at a time "appropriate to both sides."
"We welcome his visit to China at a time workable for both sides," General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, said after being asked if it is possible for Gates to visit China in coming months.
Gates was scheduled to visit China this year, in line with a China-US joint communique signed last November when US President Barack Obama visited Beijing.
The joint communique also outlined other important military exchange programs in 2010, including a visit to Beijing by Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen and a visit to Washington by Chief of General Staff of the Chinese PLA Chen Bingde.
But in January, China cut off some military exchanges with the US following the Pentagon's decision to sell a nearly US$6.4-billion arms package to Taiwan.
Subsequently, none of the planned high-level visits between the two militaries have been possible over the last six months.
The last US military official to visit China was Robert Willard, chief of the US Pacific Command. He came to Beijing in late May as a member of the US delegation to the second Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the two countries.
Gates complained at a security forum in Singapore in early June about China's dismissal of his request to visit Beijing during his Asia tour, saying Beijing's attitude "makes little sense."
Ma said an improvement in military ties depends on the United States respecting China's core interests and major concerns.
Ma also urged the US to create favorable conditions for the restoration and growth of bilateral military ties.
"We welcome his visit to China at a time workable for both sides," General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, said after being asked if it is possible for Gates to visit China in coming months.
Gates was scheduled to visit China this year, in line with a China-US joint communique signed last November when US President Barack Obama visited Beijing.
The joint communique also outlined other important military exchange programs in 2010, including a visit to Beijing by Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen and a visit to Washington by Chief of General Staff of the Chinese PLA Chen Bingde.
But in January, China cut off some military exchanges with the US following the Pentagon's decision to sell a nearly US$6.4-billion arms package to Taiwan.
Subsequently, none of the planned high-level visits between the two militaries have been possible over the last six months.
The last US military official to visit China was Robert Willard, chief of the US Pacific Command. He came to Beijing in late May as a member of the US delegation to the second Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the two countries.
Gates complained at a security forum in Singapore in early June about China's dismissal of his request to visit Beijing during his Asia tour, saying Beijing's attitude "makes little sense."
Ma said an improvement in military ties depends on the United States respecting China's core interests and major concerns.
Ma also urged the US to create favorable conditions for the restoration and growth of bilateral military ties.
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