China welcomes visit by US defense chief at a time ‘appropriate to both sides’
By APThursday, July 1, 2010
China welcomes Gates visit at ‘appropriate’ time
BEIJING — An official report says the U.S. defense chief would be welcome to visit China at a time “appropriate to both sides.”
The offer reported Thursday by the official Xinhua News Agency comes just weeks after China rejected an offer to visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Xinhua quoted General Ma Xiaotian, the deputy chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army, as saying Gates was welcome. Xinhua did not give a reason for the change in policy.
Chinese leaders have been angry over the Obama administration’s decision in January to go ahead with arms sales to Taiwan worth $6.4 billion.
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