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                  US Calls for Closer Military Ties with China

   The United States is calling for closer military cooperation with
   China, even as fresh reports of Chinese cyber attacks on critical U.S.
   defense systems are causing tensions between the two powers.
   White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said Tuesday the two
   sides should boost "non-traditional" military activities, such as
   peacekeeping, fighting piracy, and disaster relief. He made his
   comments in Beijing alongside top Chinese General Fan Changlong.
   "The central part of building a confidential relationship, but building
   a new model of relations between great powers is ensuring that we have
   a healthy, stable and reliable military-to-military relationship."
   Donilon on Monday met with President Xi Jinping, who said Beijing`s
   relationship with Washington is at a "critical juncture." Donilon`s
   two-day visit is laying the groundwork for a summit between Mr. Xi and
   President Barack Obama next week in California.
   Earlier Monday, a confidential defense report disclosed to a major U.S.
   newspaper accused Chinese cyberspies of compromising some of
   Washington`s most sensitive and advanced weapons systems.
   Classified sections of the U.S. Defense Science Board report, which
   were published in the Washington Post, outlined over two dozen breaches
   of top weapons systems by Chinese hackers, including many that had not
   been previously reported.
   The report, prepared for the Pentagon, said compromised weapons designs
   include top U.S. missile defense systems, including the advanced
   Patriot system and the Navy`s Aegis ballistic missile defense system.
   It also included vital aircraft and ships, such as the F/A-18 fighter
   jet, the Black Hawk helicopter and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
   Neither Donilon or Fan mentioned the report publicly Tuesday. But
   Donilon earlier this year called on Beijing to take "serious steps" to
   stop cybercrimes, saying the issue is a "growing challenge" to
   U.S.-China relations.
   U.S. officials have increasingly criticized China-based computer
   hacking attempts, which have been detailed in several recent private
   and government reports. But Washington has been less pointed in making
   direct accusations against the Beijing government, instead hoping to
   use talks to solve the problem.
   Despite mounting evidence, China has firmly denied involvement in the
   hacking attempts. It has also returned the accusation, saying several
   Chinese military websites have been attacked by U.S.-based hackers.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-calls-for-closer-military-ties-wit
   h-china/1669531.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-calls-for-closer-military-ties-with-china/1669531.html