U.S. Praises China Role in Anti-Piracy Ops

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U.S. Praises China Role in Anti-Piracy Ops

By Christopher Bodeen - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Feb 28, 2009 8:42:15 EST

BEIJING — A top U.S. defense official praised China’s contribution to anti-piracy efforts off the coast of Somalia on Saturday, following two days of talks in Beijing that marked a resumption of military consultations after a half-year suspension.

The visit by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense David Sedney added to signs of an optimistic start to ties between Beijing and President Barack Obama’s administration. A visit the week before by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was also praised for setting an overwhelmingly positive tone for relations.

China had suspended most military contacts in October over Washington’s agreement to sell $6.5 billion in advanced weaponry to Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as a breakaway province. And while China continues to complain about such sales, Sedney told reporters that both sides were dedicated to improving relations.

“The focus was not at all on obstacles. The focus was on how we can move forward, how we can make progress, and how we can try to make joint efforts ... to achieve common goals,” Sedney said at a briefing at the American Embassy before his departure for South Korea.

Sedney had special praise for China’s contribution to the anti-piracy flotilla patrolling the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast. Chinese sent two destroyers and a supply ship to the region in December, and on Thursday state media said its sailors had rescued an Italian merchant ship from pirates.

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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_china_us_military_talks_022809/