US-China military ties making 'progress': admiral: Military ties between the United States and China are showing "significant progress" with both sides engaged in a useful dialogue as well as joint exercises, a top US admiral said Thursday.
Three years since military relations hit a low point with Beijing suspending contacts, senior officers are holding regular talks and gaining a better understanding of each country's concerns, Admiral Samuel Locklear, head of the US Pacific Command, told a news conference.
"And I think that the progress that we're making between our two militaries is quite commendable," Locklear said.
The four-star admiral spoke after having taken part in this week's talks in Washington between the United States and China, an annual meeting that covers security as well as economic issues.
US frustration with Chinese cyber hacking against American companies featured high on the agenda in the discussions but Locklear made no mention of digital spying in his remarks.
The defense dialogue in recent months has underscored common ground while clarifying areas of disagreement, he said, allowing commanders to "manage it (friction) so that diplomacy can continue to work."
