Four former U.S. secretaries of defense have suggested more military cooperation between China and the US to diffuse tensions in the South China Sea and build trust between the two nations.

Chuck Hagel, William Cohen, William Perry and Harold Brown emphasized the need for more exchanges between the Chinese and US armed forces as a means to promote greater understanding and improve the level of trust between the two countries.

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The four former US defense chiefs made the assertion in separate statements issued during an event marking the 50th anniversary of the National Committee on United States-China Relations held in Washington recently.

Brown, who was US defense secretary from 1977 to 1981, said that military exchanges between China and the US have evolved alongside the economic relationship between the two nations. 

"I think we should do more to improve military-to-military relationships at the senior levels," Brown said. "Now, you can't have a one-sided push to do that, and so far I think it's the Chinese that have limited that.  But I think I would push again."

Perry, who served as defense chief from 1994 to 1997 under the Clinton administration, agreed with Brown's view, saying high-level dialogue between the Chinese and US military leaderships should continue. 

"Beyond that, I think the single most significant relationship would be that which our CINCPAC -- Commander-in-Chief of Pacific Forces -- can make with China," Perry said, adding that, "They could make an excellent ambassador for us."

Cohen, who served as Pentagon chief from 1997 to 2001, suggested that China is intvited to some of the US military's exercises with its allies in the Asia-Pacific Region. 

"So it doesn't look as if it's just the United States, the Australians and the Japanese conducting exercises which appear to be aimed at the Chinese," Cohen said. "I think that's a way to build more trust, even though it does raise questions about security."

The four former Pentagon chiefs agreed that US military academies should train more officers from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to foster mutual trust.

Former US defense secretary Hagel, who served under President Barrack Obama from 2013 to 2015, remarked that the US armed forces now undertakes more collaborative efforts with the Chinese military than before. 

"There are so many things that our military leaders have done -- and are doing -- to build that military-to-military relationship that most people never see," Hagel said.

Established in 1966 by a coalition of scholars, civic leaders and businessmen, the National Committee on United States-China Relations is a non-profit organization that promotes better understanding between the people and leaders of China and the US.  The committee is funded by the US Department of State, the US Department of Education, private foundations and corporate sponsors.

TagsUS Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, us military, China-US relations