Senior defense officials voice views on major issues in Asia-Pacific

Leaders and defense ministers from 28 countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific region voiced their views on major issues in the region during June 4 to 6 at the 9th Asia Security Summit, or Shangri-la Dialogue.

China-U.S. relations and Korea Peninsula issue are the major concerns of the leaders and senior military officers.

Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), reaffirmed that China-U.S. relationship is among one of the most important bilateral relations, and his country has always attached great importance to building an all-round sound relationship with the United States, including the bilateral military ties.

Speaking at the summit, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged the bilateral military relations was not moving forward smoothly, saying "regrettably, we have not been able to make progress on this relationship in recent months."

Gates excused of Chinese officials who have allegedly broken off interactions between the militaries, citing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan as the rationale.

But General Ma Xiaotian noted that the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan is not just "an ordinary issue," but a "serious issue" disturbing the U.S.- China relations over the past 30 years.


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