US, CHINESE DEFENSE CHIEFS HOLD TALKS AT SECURITY MEET

SINGAPORE— US officials said on Thursday that relations with the Chinese military might be stabilizing as their respective defense chiefs met at an Asian security conference.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis met for nearly 90 minutes, 30 minutes longer than scheduled, with his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Wei Fenghe.

Staright forward and candid

Randall Schriver, the Pentagon’s top official for AsiaPacific affairs, said Mattis described the talks as “straightforward and candid” and asserted that high-level talks were especially valuable during times of tension.

Schriver said the discussions covered numerous is- sues but focused especially on the disputed South China Sea, where Chinese military activity was viewed by Washington as irresponsible and Beijing complained of an inappropriate US military presence.

Difference of opinions

“That’s an area where we will continue to have differences and talk through,” Schriver told reporters after the meeting.

Mattis and Wei discussed an existing US invitation for Wei to visit the United States, but details remain to be worked out, Schriver said.

“There was a commitment on both sides to try to find a time” for such a meeting, he added.