Article Posted on : - Dec 13, 2012

WASHINGTON (PTI): The recent Asia-Pacific "posture" of the United States, the situation in the Middle East, and Af-Pak have figured prominently in the 13th US-China Defence Consultative talks held at the Pentagon.

In the talks which were held Wednesday, the US side was led by Dr Jim Miller, undersecretary of defence for Policy, while the visiting Chinese delegation was led by Lt Gen Qi Jianguo, deputy chief of the People's Liberation Army general staff.

"The two discussed the US rebalance in the Asia-Pacific region and the security situation in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan," an official release said.

According to an official statement, both Miller and Qi emphasised the positive momentum of the US-China military-to-military relationship this year, and urged further cooperation in 2013.

Both the officials discussed maritime security in the East China Sea and South China Sea, and stressed the importance of avoiding miscalculation in the areas of cyber space, nuclear policy and missile defence.

Miller stressed that North Korea's rocket launch on Wednesday was a clear violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874, and a provocative act that threatens regional peace and security.

He asked China to work with the US and the international community to insist that North Korea live up to its commitments, adhere to its international obligations, and deal peacefully with its neighbours, the Pentagon statement said.