In an indication of strengthening Israeli-Sino relations, Chief of General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army General Chen Bingde is due to visit Israel next week. The visit is taking place at the invitation of IDF Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz.

Bingde’s trip comes after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited Beijing in June, the first trip of an Israeli defense minister to China in 10 years. According to defense officials, Bingde’s trip does not signify changes in Israel’s defense policy with respect to China. In recent years, Israel considerably downgraded its defense relations with Beijing under US pressure, and Israeli firms are forbidden from selling arms to China.

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A high-ranking Chinese military official criticized the US on Monday for recently conducting joint naval exercises in the South China Sea, calling the timing “inappropriate”. “On various occasions, the US has expressed that it does not intend to intervene in South China Sea disputes,” said Gen. Chen Bingde, chief of the general staff of the People’s Liberation Army. “The US is actually sending out the opposite signal,” he added, referring to joint drills between America and other nations such as Vietnam and the Philippines. Chen’s remarks came during a news conference following his meeting with US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen who is on a four-day visit to China.

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Context
Top US and Chinese military officials held talks in Washington on Tuesday to exchange views on the ties between the two armed forces as well as regional and international issues. The meetings were headed by US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen and Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Chen Bingde, who is heading a visiting PLA delegation. Welcoming Bingde’s visit, Mullen said that enhancing the military-to-military relations serves both countries’ interests, since there is significant scope for them to work together on several regional and international issues. Bingde expressed China’s willingness to cooperate with the US to enhance military ties. The issues discussed during the talks included anti-piracy initiatives, cyber security, counter terrorism and the Korean nuclear crisis.

The meeting has taken place in the background of unilateral US Osama operation in Pakistan that has altered the security situation of the region. Additionally, China and Russia are increasingly concerned over NATO’s military intervention in Libya.

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Context
Chief of the general staff of People’s Liberation Army, Chen Bingde, will visit the US in May, according to the Chinese Ministry of Defense. Bindge told a visiting delegation of the US congress that his trip is scheduled for May 15-22 at the invitation of Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen. “I look forward to having an in-depth and candid discussion with US political and military leaders on bilateral military relations and other issues of common concern,” the general added.

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