China, ASEAN build military ties for regional peace

China is expanding military cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to ease regional tension and promote peace, not to erode the United States' long-established defense ties with countries in the region, experts said.

China and the 17 other countries at the Fifth ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus pledged on Saturday to jointly tackle terrorism and build confidence via practical measures, according to joint statements.

The meeting was attended by the defense ministers from 10 ASEAN countries and their eight partners - China, Russia, the United States, Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea. Two joint statements were issued: Preventing and Countering the Threat of Terrorism, and Practical Confidence-Building Measures.