BEIJING: China and the United States agreed on measures on Monday to boost defence cooperation, including setting up a hotline, but clear differences remained over Beijing’s military buildup.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said he raised “uncertainty over China’s military modernisation and the need for greater transparency to allay international concerns” in talks in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan.
Cao defended China’s rapid growth in military spending and, according to Gates, did not address US concerns about a Chinese anti-satellite missile test earlier this year.
But the two did announce agreements on increased cooperation and a direct phone link between their defence establishments for quick communication in times of crisis.
China’s official Xinhua news agency said the link would be the first of its kind between Beijing and another country.
The two permanent members of the UN Security Council also discussed Iran’s nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is purely for energy generation but Washington believes is meant to produce an atomic bomb.The US is seeking tougher sanctions on Iran.
