China and US in talks on military code of conduct

BEIJING - China and the United States are holding a working group meeting in the US this week to discuss a military security code of conduct covering international waters and airspace. Both countries are under pressure after a close encounter last week between a Chinese navy fighter jet and a US Navy reconnaissance plane.

Last March, President Xi Jinping and Barack Obama met on the sidelines of the 3rd Nuclear Security Summit and agreed to the early creation of the code of conduct, as well as structuring a system for mutual notification of major military activities. In early July the talks continued as the two countries completed the sixth round of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing, and committed to continue their discussions. www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).