US, Chinese military officials hold talks in Shanghai

WASHINGTON: The United States (US) and Chinese military officials met in Shanghai for a series of meetings which the US military said on Thursday were focused on reducing unsafe actions by Chinese military ships and planes.

“Military officials from the US travelled to Shanghai, China to meet for working-level talks focused on decreasing the incidences of unsafe and unprofessional PLA Navy and PLA Airforce actions,” the US military statement said, using an acronym for the People’s Liberation Army.

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The semi-annual talks, known as the military maritime consultative agreement (MMCA) working group, took place this week, the statement added.

The US has long complained about dangerous flying and sailing by the Chinese military in the region.

China’s military on Wednesday concluded two-day war games around Taiwan in which it held long-range, live-fire drills in the East China Sea, marking an escalation of exercises around the island.