US and China set to resume military talks

[FT_news]

The US and China are expected to discuss North Korea as the two sides resume bilateral military talks after 18 months

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[forum_admin]

The US expects its highest-level bilateral military meeting with China in 18 months to be dominated by discussions about containing North Korea.

China suspended the military sessions in protest over weapon sales to Taiwan approved by the Bush administration. The Obama administration has been eager to rebuild links, in part to find ways to prevent incidents at sea between vessels of the two navies, which have been frequent over the past few months.

Michele Flournoy, US undersecretary of defense for policy, will visit Beijing for two days of defence consultation talks with Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the People’s Liberation Army’s general staff, from Tuesday, in the first such session since December 2007.

“North Korea will factor in very strongly,” a senior US defence official told reporters. “The recent activities by North Korea of course occasioned a UN Security Council resolution. And the activities are of great concern to China. So I expect that we will be having extended discussions, on matters where we can find common interest and co-operate.”

Following North Korea’s recent aggressive posturing, China has taken a tougher stance towards its reclusive neighbour, reflected in its support for sanctions against Pyongyang.

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US and China set to resume military talks