For the first time in nearly a year and a half, China and the United States are reengaging in military discussions.  The annual talks between the two sides were suspended last year after the previous Bush Administration went through with a 6.5-billion US dollar arms sale to Taiwan last year.  However, with the new Obama administration in charge, the defense exchanges have now resumed, with the two-day talks taking place this week in Beijing.  Of course, aside from issues surrounding areas of mutual defense, there can be little doubt that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula also ranked high on the list of topics.  Meanwhile, this defense meeting might also be viewed as a precursor to the forthcoming Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the US and China later this year.  So how much different is the Obama Administration’s stance on regional security and issues surrounding Taiwan when compared to the Bush Administration? 

Ni hao, you’re listening to  People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  In this edition of the show we’ll talk defense and regional security between China and the US.  So let’s get started.

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First let’s hear from Mr. Da Wei, Deputy Director of the Institute of American Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

(Dialogue with Da)

And after a short break, we’ll hear from an expert from Renmin University.

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Ni hao, you’re listening to  People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  I’m Paul James in Beijing.  In this edition of the show we’re talking about the defense and regional security dynamic between China and the United States to coincide with this week’s high-level defense officials meeting between the two sides in Beijing this week.  For more on this we’re joined on the line now by Professor Shi Yinhong, Director of the Center for American Studies at Renmin University.

(Dialogue with Shi)

And with that we close out this edition of  People In the Know, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  When it comes to issues surrounding defense and military matters, keeping the doors of dialogue open is generally one of the most sound policies countries can implement.  Questions or comments for us can be sent to people@cri.com.cn.  For Executive Director Zhao Yang, Producers Chen Mo and Xu Yang and Intern Li Ximeng, I’m Paul James in Beijing.  We’ll talk to you tomorrow.