Actions speak louder than words in military relations

Editor's Note: US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel begins his first visit to China on Monday since taking office. A Chinese military expert offers her views on bilateral military ties.

The Chinese and US militaries have communicated with each other for 34 years. Although China-US military ties cannot be set apart from overall bilateral relations, they tend to show shortcomings in these ties, fluctuating back and forth from development to stagnation.

Along with the agreement by President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama in 2013 to establish a new type of relationship based on mutual respect and mutual benefits, the two militaries have also made efforts to build a new relationship.