With the US presidential election less than 50 days away, President Barack Obama and his challenger, former Governor Mitt Romney, have been challenging each other on who is tougher on China.
US President Barack Obama receives low marks among retired military officers, with 56 percent disapproving of Obama's performance.
The Pentagon invited China to join the next Rim of the Pacific Exercise in 2014, in a bid to lessen Beijing's concerns about the US' Asia-Pacific strategy as that country's defense chief kicked off his first visit to China.
China told Japan and the US on Tuesday that it hopes the Diaoyu Islands issue can be resolved peacefully but Beijing reserves the right to "take further action".
Japan's 'purchase' of Diaoyu to damage trade
US invitation to enhance trust
Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on Tuesday called for more efforts to promote a new type of military ties between China and the US.
Washington wants to establish the most important bilateral relations in the world with China, with strong military ties as the key, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Tuesday.
Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo met with US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta here on Tuesday afternoon.
Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie held talks Tuesday with visiting US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
Washington has repeatedly said it will remain neutral in the territorial disputes between China and other Asian countries, but the implementation of this policy is ambiguous.US 'will not take sides over islands'
US Ambassador to China Gary Locke re-emphasized the US' neutral stance on the territorial disputes in both the East China Sea and South China Sea.
Dispute 'will hurt economic ties'
Diaoyu Islands cannot be bought
Chinese federations voice indignation
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US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will visit Japan before landing in China, as the two countries continue to feud over the Diaoyu Islands.