U.S. air force chief touts importance of communications with Chinese military

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Mark Welsh said Wednesday that opening up lines of communication with China is good for the United States, the region and the world.

Welsh was briefing reporters of the Defense Writers Group on his week-long visit to China in later September, during which he held discussions with Chinese counterparts, toured air bases and saw demonstration flights by Chinese pilots.

His visit to China came following the June summit in California held by U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

"My biggest takeaway was I think we can communicate -- we can cooperate in a way that helps prevent misinformation and miscommunication (and) accidental confrontation," Welsh said. " There are opportunities to continue that kind of engagement."

The U.S. air force is working with the Chinese in many different areas, including holding professional military education exchanges and joint exercises, the general said.

Welsh noted that the two sides are building a working relationship for search and rescue operations, and are cooperating on disaster assistance and humanitarian relief exercises as well. One such exercise is being held right now in Hawaii.

Improving communications will help in the long run as U.S. and Chinese forces interact on land, at sea or in the air, he said.