US 'fully responsible' for difficulties, Defense spokesman says

The United States is "fully responsible" for current difficulties in bilateral military exchanges, China's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

"Dialogue cannot be without principles, and communication cannot be without a bottom line," Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said.

"On the one hand, the US has paid lip service to enhancing communication, while on the other hand, it has been intentionally creating obstacles regardless of China's concerns, seriously undermining mutual trust between the two militaries," he said. "This is not a proper attitude to be committed to communication."

Tan made the remarks in response to the US claims that China has "rejected" a proposal to hold a Sino-US defense meeting in Singapore, as well as requests in recent years for exchange between the two militaries.

"China values developing military-to-military relations with the US and carrying out communication," the spokesman said, stressing that engagement between the two militaries has not, in fact, been suspended.

Tan added that the US should demonstrate its sincerity and correct its mistakes through concrete action to create the necessary conditions and proper atmosphere for bilateral communication and exchanges.