China's No.2 military leader vows to develop military ties with US at forum

China's vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, has vowed to strengthen military ties with the United States while accusing unnamed countries of trying to undermine Communist Party rule. Zhang made the comments at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, China's main military diplomacy event. He also criticized Western countries for interfering in other nations' affairs and engaging in clique politics. The forum comes at a time when China and the US have had no direct military communication since the former Chinese defense minister, Li Shangfu, was sanctioned by Washington.