On June 15, Chinese media reported that the Chinese and US militaries had reached a framework agreement on dialogue and would soon negotiate a code of conduct to prevent the risk of aerial clashes.

A US officer on a P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft points to a photograph of an artificial island illegally built by China in the South China Sea - Photo: Reuters.

According to the China Daily, this code of conduct will include guidelines to prevent miscalculations when US and Chinese military aircraft operate in close proximity in the airspace. A Chinese Ministry of Defense official revealed that the two countries' militaries may hold joint exercises.

The exercise will be based on a code of conduct to ensure that the two countries' militaries accurately and fully implement its guidelines. The Chinese Ministry of Defense also expressed hope that the dialogue agreement “will open a new chapter for the two countries’ military leaders to discuss issues of common concern.”

Beijing emphasized that guidelines on aerial encounters would help reduce the risk of miscalculation or accidents when military aircraft from both countries operate in close proximity. China stated that it aims to reach a consensus on these guidelines by September.

Last week, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter hosted Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, in Washington. Carter reiterated the call for China to immediately cease its illegal land reclamation and artificial island construction in the South China Sea.

Tensions between the US and China escalated after Washington sent patrol aircraft to the waters where Beijing is illegally building artificial islands. The Chinese navy then signaled the US aircraft to leave the area.

(According to TTO)