Background: China-US military ties

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China's relationship with the US has seen its ups and downs over the past decades.

Military ties are one of the key areas between the two countries' relations. Let's take a closer look at how they have developed over the last year.

On October 3rd in 2008, the US administration notified the Congress about its plan to sell arms to Taiwan. The nearly 6.5 billion US dollar deal included a Patriot III anti-missile system, an airborne early warning system, helicopters and other equipment.

China denounced the arms sales. Military ties between China and the US have been fractured since then.

In December, 2008, China announced its Navy would carry out escort missions off the Gulf of Aden in response to pirate attacks. The command of the US Navy's fifth fleet welcomed the move and said it hoped to enhance cooperation with the Chinese Navy on the anti-terror mission.

Two months later, Defense Policy Coordination Talks between China and the US were held in Beijing.

The talks signaled the resumption of defense exchanges between the two countries and improvement of military ties.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama have met twice this year. Both leaders pledged to improve and step up military cooperation.

The two countries wrapped up their defense consultations in Beijing in June. It was the first meeting of its kind in one and half years. The two sides stressed their commitment to cooperation and agreed on the need to realize high-level military exchanges this year.