After setbacks, US tries to forge military ties with China: "A meeting between US and Chinese defence chiefs in Hanoi on Monday offers Washington a chance to improve fragile relations with Beijing's military and make the case for a more "reliable" dialogue, US officials said on Sunday.
The scheduled talks between Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie, on the sidelines of an ASEAN conference, are the first between the countries' top military officials in a year and mark the latest attempt by the United States to forge a security dialogue with Beijing.
China has repeatedly broken off ties with the American military due to unhappiness with US policies, including arms sales to Taiwan, much to the frustration of US officials who argue a more regular dialogue would reduce tensions.
US officials played down expectations for the meeting, saying it was merely one step in a broader, delicate effort that would take time to pay off.
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