China-US military ties improve: Media

China's military, the largest in the world, is taking concrete steps to foster closer links with US to address concerns arising out of its massive modernisation, a media report said.
The increased military power of China, as well as the rise of China, has been met with unease among the West powers and in particular the world's largest military spender, the United States, a commentary in the state-run Xinhua news agency said.
China has been taking concrete steps to improve communication and transparency with Western partners, it said, adding that it has repeatedly stated the defencive nature of its national defence policy and its willingness to engage in international military exchanges and operations.

Highlighting China's intention and responsibility as a global player to safeguard world peace, it said the world's two biggest militaries has designed several programs including senior-level dialogues, working-level exchanges and practical activities to continue the defence links.
Both Chinese and US navies conducted their first joint anti-piracy drills in the Gulf of Aden last September and China will participate in the 2014 Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC).
The RIMPAC is held by the US Pacific Fleet in seas around the Hawaiian islands. The exercises once trained for conflict with the Soviet Union and later included Russia as a participant. China was an observer to the drills in 1998.

On the other side of the Atlantic, China and Britain set up the Defence Strategic Dialogue in 2012, which, to put it in British Chief of Defence Staff Nicholas Houghton's words, seeks to "better understand not just our capabilities but also the policies that underpin those capabilities.

"It has also got a defence strategic dialogue with France, which focused on the development of bilateral military ties, as well as international and regional issues of common concern," it said.
These efforts are now starting to bear fruit, it said.
However, to further develop their relations, China and the Western powers should work together, as partners rather than rivals, to deal with issues such as the global challenge presented by cyber security threats and to build mutual trust, especially in the military field, it said.