From International Herald Tribune:
Two years after Donald Rumsfeld bluntly criticized China’s rapid military buildup, Defense Secretary Robert Gates struck a conciliatory tone toward Beijing on Saturday, saying the United States and China have the opportunity to “build trust over time.”
In a speech delivered from the same podium where Rumsfeld, his predecessor, said in 2005 that China’s growing arsenal of ships, missiles and submarines threatened Asia’s security balance, Gates steered away from a direct challenge to China about its military modernization and said he was hopeful about future dealings between the two countries. [Full Text]
