US: China, US should avoid military incidents

U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice listens to Fang Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission at Bayi Building in Beijing Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. AP

BEIJING— The US national security adviser says China and the US need to avoid any incidents that complicate relations between their militaries.

Susan Rice made the remarks Tuesday in Beijing during meetings that follow a recent close encounter between air force planes of the two sides over the South China Sea.

The US has alleged that a Chinese pilot acted recklessly Aug. 19 during close passes of a US plane south of Hainan island. China denied that and said it would continue responding to US surveillance flights off its coast.

Rice was meeting with Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Fang Changlong on the second day of her two-day visit to Beijing.

She meets China’s defense and foreign ministers later Tuesday.

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