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.
