Australian military leaders reiterated the one-China stance at annual consultations on defense matters with senior Chinese military officials in Canberra Monday.

Visiting Deputy Chief of the General Staff of China's People's Liberation Army Xiong Guangkai held the defense and strategic consultations with Deputy Secretary of the Department of Defense Shane Carmody. Earlier, Xiong had separate talks with Defense Minister Robert Hill and Chief of the Defense Force Peter Cosgrove.

During the consultations and meetings, both sides expressed satisfaction with the cooperation and exchanges between the defense forces of the two countries.

The Chinese delegation pointed out that an attempt for "Taiwan's independence" is the biggest threat to regional peace.

The one-day security and strategic consultation is the eighth of the kind since the annual event started in 1997.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2004)