China's U.S. ambassador plays down tensions after Hagel trip

[World News]

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By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China's ambassador to the United States on Thursday played down the tense exchange this week in Beijing between Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and his Chinese counterpart and praised the frank talk between the two countries. Ambassador Cui Tiankai spoke after Hagel's meeting on Tuesday with Defense Minister Chang Wanquan, who called on the United States to restrain Japan and chided another U.S. ally, the Philippines. "He had a very substantive and direct exchange with his Chinese counterpart," Tiankai said. Hagel's trip to China exposed tensions over its territorial disputes with regional U.S. allies, including the Philippines and Japan.

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