US, China military visits in limbo

Beijing, Mar.12 (ANI): The Chinese Army brass has urged the Pentagon to take the initiative to fix stagnant Sino-US military relations.

The Pentagon needs to make "real gestures" to bring back normal relations between the two militaries, the China Daily quoted army officials, as saying.

China in January decided to suspend military exchanges, including scheduled high-level visits between the Chinese and US armed forces, in response to the White House's announcement that it would sell a package of arms worth about 6.4 billion dollars to Taiwan.

Washington angered Beijing again when US President Barack Obama met with the Dalai Lama at the White House on February 18.

"The Pentagon is responsible for the current stagnant situation between the two militaries," said Lieutenant General Li Dianren with the National Defense University, the top military institute for army officers.

"But now it is unclear how long the ice age will last," the NPC deputy told China Daily during the ongoing top legislature meeting in Beijing.

Pentagon officials have said earlier that China has postponed planned visits to the US by Chen Bingde, chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army, as well as visits by one of its top regional commanders.

Lieutenant General Xu Genchu, with the Academy of Military Sciences, said the exchanges of visits between top military officials of the two countries are unlikely to take place soon, unless the US takes some actions. (ANI)