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July 1, 2010: According to Xinhua, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the People‟s Liberation Army (PLA) Gen. Ma Xiaotian says China would welcome a visit by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, “at a time that is convenient for both sides.” July 2, 2010: GM announces that for the first time it sold more cars in China than the US. July 5, 2010: A Chinese court finds geologist Xue Feng, a naturalized US citizen, guilty of stealing state secrets and sentences him to eight years in prison. July 6, 2010: China denounces US unilateral sanctions imposed against Iran, saying that additional measures should not be taken outside of the UN Security Council. July 8, 2010: After a three-month delay, US Treasury Department issues its report on currency. July 8, 2010: China‟s Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang says China firmly opposes any foreign warships or planes entering the Yellow Sea as well as adjacent waters that engage in activities that would negatively affect Chinese security and interests. July 8, 2010: UN Security Council issues a presidential statement condemning the March 26 attack on the South Korean ship, the Cheonan, but does not blame North Korea for the sinking. July 9, 2010: Reuters reports that China‟s exports in June increased 43.9 percent from June 2009, which was above expectations of a 38 percent rise. July 15, 2010: Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang states, “We firmly oppose any foreign military vessel or plane conducting activities in the Yellow Sea and China‟s coastal waters undermining China's security interests. Under the current circumstances, we hope relevant parties exercise calmness and restraint and refrain from activities that would escalate tension in the region.” July 17-18, 2010: China holds “Warfare 2010,” a military exercise held in the Yellow Sea involving troops from the Jinan Military Region and the staff of the Ministry of Transport.  Chronology and research assistance by CSIS intern Robert Lyons and David Silverman US-China Relations 37 October 2010 July 19-20, 2010: The International Energy Association (IEA) says that China surpassed the US last year to become the world‟s biggest energy consumer, but the US remains the largest energy consumer per capita. Zhou Xian, China‟s National Energy Administration spokesperson, says IEA estimates of China‟s consumption are too high. July 20, 2010: China‟s Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Yao Jian states that Congress‟ investigation of China‟s planned investment in a steel venture in Mississippi is a protectionist measure. July 19-20, 2010: Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang attends the Clean Energy Ministerial Forum in Washington and meets Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, White House Science and Technology adviser John Holdren, and other US officials. July 21, 2010: In response to widespread piracy in China, US lawmakers petition President Obama‟s chief intellectual property enforcement official Victoria Espinel to press China for greater protection of intellectual property. July 21, 2010: Testifying to Congress, US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke states that China‟s undervalued currency helps to subsidize China‟s exports, but he cautions that Congressional action is not the preferable way to get China to act. July 21, 2010: In response to planned US-ROK exercises, China‟s Foreign Ministry spokesman says that China “firmly oppose(s) foreign warships and military aircraft entering the Yellow Sea and other coastal waters of China to engage in activities affecting China‟s security and interests. July 23, 2010: At the ASEAN Regional Forum in Hanoi, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton states, “The United States has a national interest in freedom of navigation, open access to Asia‟s maritime commons and respect for international law in the South China Sea.” On the sidelines of the meeting, Clinton meets Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to discuss bilateral issues. July 23, 2010: During a trip to New Delhi, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen says China is taking a “much more aggressive approach” in its policy toward international waters near its coastline and adds that he has gone from being “curious” to being “concerned” about China‟s military buildup and its intentions. July 25, 2010: In a press release posted on the Foreign Ministry‟s website, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi cautions other countries not to “internationalize” South China Sea territorial disputes between China and its neighbors. July 26, 2010: China‟s Commerce Minister Chen Deming writes in a Financial Times op-ed article that China is open to foreign business and “will open wider in the future.” July 27, 2010: Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg gives remarks on China at the Nixon Center in Washington DC. US-China Relations 38 October 2010 July 28, 2010: In its first report on China in four years, the International Monetary Fund labels China‟s currency as “undervalued.” July 29, 2010: Chinese defense officials announce that naval forces conducted drills in the South China Sea on July 26. July 30, 2010: Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng states that China has “indisputable sovereignty” over islands in the South China Sea and the nearby waters. Aug. 2, 2010: State Department Special Adviser for Nonproliferation and Arms Control Robert Einhorn calls on China to be more cooperative in enforcing UN sanctions against Iran, saying that “means not backfilling, not taking advantage of the responsible restraint of other countries.” Aug. 5, 2010: Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu states that “China‟s trade with Iran is a normal business exchange, which will not harm the interests of other countries and the international community.” Aug. 6, 2010: Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu urges the US and the ROK to respect China‟s position and concern more seriously regarding military drills in the Yellow Sea. Aug. 9, 2010: Vice Premier Wang Qishan meets Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) in Beijing. Aug. 9, 2010: Jury in Hawaii finds US engineer Noshir Gawadia guilty of selling military secrets to China. Aug. 10, 2010: Secretary Clinton expresses US condolences for the loss of life and damage caused by the mudslide in China. Aug. 11, 2010: US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman announces that the US has contributed $50,000 for relief work in the mudslide devastated area in China‟s Gansu province. Aug. 16, 2010: China passes Japan to become the world‟s second-largest economy. Aug. 16, 2010: The Pentagon submits its annual report to Congress assessing Chinese military capabilities. Aug. 18, 2010: Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng voices China‟s firm opposition to the Pentagon‟s report stating that the report “ignores objective facts and makes accusations about China‟s normal national defense and military building.” Aug. 18, 2010: Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela visits Beijing for the fourth round of talks on Latin America under the umbrella of the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. He states that China‟s growing presence in Latin America does not pose a threat to the US. US-China Relations 39 October 2010 Aug. 18, 2010: After meeting the head of the Philippine military, US Pacific Command Commander Adm. Robert Willard says that Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea is causing concern in the region and the US will work to maintain security and protect important trade routes. Aug. 24, 2010: The US announces it will sell “defense services, technical data, and defense articles” for Taiwan‟s air defense and radar equipment its Indigenous Defense Fighter jets. Aug. 25, 2010: Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai arrives in Washington to attend the China-US vice foreign ministerial political consultations. Aug. 27, 2010: Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu says: “China resolutely opposes the United States selling weapons and relevant technical assistance to Taiwan,” and calls on the US to “put an end to arms sales to Taiwan and military ties with Taiwan to avoid causing new harm” to bilateral relations. Aug. 29, 2010: China announces that the Beihai Fleet of the PLA Navy will conduct live-ammunition exercises from Sept. 1-4, in the sea off the southeast coast of Qingdao city. Aug. 31, 2010: A preliminary determination by the US Commerce Department‟s Import Administration finds that $514 million of aluminum products imported from China in 2009 were unfairly subsidized. Sept. 1, 2010: China‟s Representative to the Six-Party Talks, Wu Dawei, holds talks with US officials in Washington. Sept. 1, 2010: China‟s Ministry of Commerce expresses “serious concern” about US proposal to strengthen trade remedy practices, which it says will undermine order in international trade. Sept. 6, 2010: National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers and Deputy National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon begin a 3-day visit in Beijing. Sept. 7, 2010: China calls on Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assure the international community that the country‟s nuclear program is peaceful in nature. Sept. 9, 2010: Commerce Department reports that the US trade deficit with China dropped slightly to $25.9 billion, but remained the largest of all US trading partners. Sept. 10, 2010: The United Steelworkers union accuses China of using unfair trade practices to create jobs in its clean energy technology sector and get a permanent edge on US manufacturers. Sept. 11, 2010: Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg delivers a speech on the US and China at an International Institute for Strategic Studies meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. US-China Relations 40 October 2010 Sept. 13, 2010: Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, at a World Economic Forum meeting in Tianjin, China, states that China‟s trade surplus is “not intentional.” Sept. 13, 2010: In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says China is doing “very, very little” to allow the yuan to appreciate. Sept. 15, 2010: Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian refutes assertions by members of the US congress that the undervalued yuan is responsible for China‟s trade surplus with the US. Sept. 16, 2010: Treasury Secretary Geithner testifies before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and House Ways and Means Committees on China‟s currency policies and the US-China economic relationship. Sept. 16, 2010: Stephen Bosworth, US special envoy for North Korea, visits China to discuss how to resume the six-party negotiations on the denuclearization on the Korean peninsula. Sept. 20, 2010: Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, commander of the US Navy 7th Fleet Amphibious Force, says China is making moves threatening the ability of ships of other countries to move freely in the South China Sea. Sept. 23, 2010: President Obama meets Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and presses for China to immediately revalue its currency. Sept. 24, 2010: US House Ways and Means Committee approves legislation that would allow companies to petition for duties on Chinese imports to compensate for an undervalued currency. Sept. 26, 2010: The Ministry of Commerce announces China will impose import duties on US chicken products it says are being unfairly dumped on the Chinese market. Sept. 27-28, 2010: Michael Schiffer, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, visits Beijing in an effort to lay the groundwork for renewed US-China military exchanges. Sept. 28-30, 2010: Department of State Special Adviser on Nonproliferation and Arms Control Robert Einhorn visits China.