China rejects US' phone call proposal

China rejected the US' proposal between the two defense ministers, given the latter's "irresponsible and seriously wrong" attack on China's civilian unmanned airship, which "set a bad precedent", a defense spokesman said Thursday afternoon.

"Recently, the United States proposed a phone conversation between the two defense ministers to communicate with the Chinese side over China's civilian unmanned airship," Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement.

The US insisted on using force to attack the civilian unmanned airship, which "seriously violated international norms and set a bad precedent", he said.

"Given such an irresponsible and seriously wrong move of the US, that failed to establish the required atmosphere for dialogue and exchanges between the two militaries, China does not accept the US' proposal of a telephone talk between the two ministers," said Tan.

The spokesman added that China reserves the right to use necessary means to deal with similar situations.