Xi and Obama agree deals to avoid risk of military misunderstanding
China and the United States sealed two military reporting deals to ward off threats from miscommunication as the two countries' defence forces rub up against each other in the Asia-Pacific region.
China and the United States sealed two military reporting deals to ward off threats from miscommunication as the two countries' defence forces rub up against each other in the Asia-Pacific region.
The military agreements were reached during a meeting between President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama in Beijing yesterday.
Xi said the US and Chinese defence departments agreed to establish a mutual reporting mechanism on major military operations and a code of safe conduct on naval and air military encounters, Xinhua reported.
The reporting mechanism covers policy and strategic developments, and observation of military exercises and activities, while the code of conduct includes details of encounters between naval surface vessels, the White House said.
Military analysts said the deals would not change the two countries' basic defence and diplomatic positions but could prevent some potential military confrontations.
"Such agreements will not reduce or stop the US' reconnaissance activities in the South China Sea. At the same time, the People's Liberation Army will also not halt any intercepts when US surveillance flights target China in waters near Hainan ," Renmin University international relations professor Shi Yinhong said.
