'China to develop military ties with US'
A top Chinese military official on Monday slammed certain countries for "deliberately creating turmoil" and said military ties with the US will be developed, as a defence conference opened in Beijing.  Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the Xiangshan Forum, a gathering of military and diplomatic officials. The audience included Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who addressed the conference after Zhang.  Zhang did not name the nations "creating turmoil" in his opening address, but Beijing has kept up a steady drumbeat of criticism for the positions of the United States on Russia's military operation in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict.  "As we look across the world today, hotspot issues are arising one after another. The pain of war, chaos and turmoil, and loss of life are constantly playing out," Zhang told the forum.  "However, some countries, for fear that the world may stabilise, deliberately create turmoil, interfere in regional issues, interfere in other countries' internal affairs, and instigate colour revolutions," he said.  Zhang also vowed to develop military ties with the United States. "We will deepen strategic cooperation and coordination with Russia, and on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, develop military ties with the US," Zhang said. Many Western countries have either not attended the forum or are only sending small and low-level delegations, preferring instead to discuss international security issues at the Shangri-La Dialogue held annually in Singapore. (AFP/Reuters)