A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday said that there should be principles and bottom lines for communications and dialogues between the Chinese and U.S. militaries.

Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry citing concerns that military-to-military exchanges between China and the United States are in a state of interruption.

Wu said that China-U.S. mil-to-mil engagement has not stopped. The two sides have been maintaining candid and effective communications through military diplomatic channels.

Nevertheless, there are indeed many difficulties and obstacles in the relationship, Wu said, adding that many of such difficulties and obstacles are caused by the U.S. side.

For some time, the United States has been sticking to a wrong perception of China and taking unreasonable measures to contain and suppress China. It has brutally interfered in China's internal affairs by selling arms to and strengthening military ties with China's Taiwan region. The U.S. military has sent naval and air troops to China's vicinity to conduct provocative and deterrent military operations, Wu said.

Therefore, the Chinese military has every reason to take countermeasures, Wu said.

When the U.S. side is undermining China's national interests, it should have no illusions that the Chinese military would communicate like nothing happened, Wu noted.

The U.S. side should show real sincerity and take concrete measures to create the conditions for the mil-to-mil relationship to return to the right track, Wu said.