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.
The two countries have had a number of close military encounters, including one in August, when a Chinese J-11 jet flew close to a US Navy P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance plane over the East China Sea.
Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the agreements would be another channel for US and Chinese military leaders to understand each other or even step in quickly to defuse tensions over "accidents".
Xinhua quoted Xi as saying that under the two deals, the two militaries should deepen exchanges, mutual trust and cooperation, including exchanges between senior officers of the two armed forces. There should also be smoother communication and more joint trainings and drills between the two forces.
The defence ministry said the agreements would have an "important effect and significance in promoting China-US strategic trust and building a new type of military relationship".
