chers, however, have continued to sound alarms about Beijing’s increasing military-technological pursuits, including the Liaoning (pictured above), a rebuilt Soviet-era aircraft carrier which this year began successfully test flying planes of its deck.
In Washington, there’s clear division over whether to treat the ship, and China’s other pursuits toward military improvements, as a threat or a natural buildup for a major power.
But Locklear, in a rare Pentagon briefing, took a decidedly optimistic view.
“Well, I think we’re hopeful that they are part of the security environment,” he said, “and we’re doing everything that we can possible with the Chinese, at least on the mil-to-mil, to try to bring them into the security environment.”
Obama’s open hand to Beijing appears to be working, as Locklear said U.S.-China military relations between the Pentagon and People’s Liberation Army have improved to “historic” levels in the past two years.
“They have endured diplomatic issues that, in the past