Trust vital to a happy marriage of militaries

Trust. It is a word often heard when senior defense officials from China and the United States get together for their high-profile talks. But analysts say, after three decades of an on-off relationship, as with any marriage of convenience trust can be a fragile thing.

The two countries wrapped up their 10th round of Defense Consultative Talks (DCT) yesterday, their first chance to kiss and make up since the suspension of military ties by China over the proposed US sale of arms to Taiwan.

It was hailed a success by both parties, but experts say there is still a long way to go before military relations reach a level of mutual trust.