Teng also said the two military hotlines would serve different purposes. The Sino-Russian line can be used for timely contact on bilateral military communication and cooperation as well as to exchange views and coordinate stances on big regional and international problems. For example, the two countries will use the hotline to improve their cooperation on jointly combating terrorism and separatist activities along their border to maintain security. The Sino-U.S. line will be used to eliminate distrust and settle possible disputes through dialogues.

A Chinese military expert who works in Beijing agreed that the two hotlines would serve different purposes for the countries involved. The Sino-Russian hotline specifically would be used for military cooperation and strategic coordination, said the expert who declined to be named, because he works closely with the military. Military cooperation would cover technical communication, joint anti-terror military rehearsals, military purchases, communication among high-level officers and leaders and issues related to boundary areas. Strategic coordination involves cooperation on regional security, regional conflicts, crisis management and important regional and international issues such as anti-missile defense and relationships among big countries, he said.

The newly-opened Sino-American military hotline would focus on mutual military trust and military transparency with the aim of preventing military friction and strengthening bilateral trust, the expert said.

He also pointed out that mutual trust between China and Russia is deeper than between China and the United States, which is why the country was able to quickly set up its hotline with Russia first.

"The settlement of Sino-Russian borderline issue came fairly early and was perfect in creating a firm basis for mutual trust," the expert said.

He also said both countries have similar views and stances on big regional and international problems. He recalled their cooperation under the SCO framework has enhanced their military mutual trust as well. Still the expert was optimistic about the setting up of the hotline between China and the United States, despite their lack of mutual trust.

"There are some practical obstacles between China and the United States on establishing the hotline, but these obstacles can be overcome," the expert said.

On the one hand, the United States hopes to strengthen ties with China, but on the other, it continues to press China about its lack of military transparency and restrain it, the expert said.

"Actually, China's military situation is quite transparent," he said, adding that the Untied States should stop pressuring the country so that the two can build their mutual trust.

More to come

China can open similar military hotlines with other countries and regions, not only for military purposes, but also as a diplomatic means of dealing with military issues to be used anywhere at anytime, the military expert said. He suggested that China open lines with India, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, the European Union and the Association of South East Asian Nations.

"This is an effective way to deal with relationships with neighboring countries and big countries," he said.

At present, a Sino-South Korean military hotline is under negotiation, according to a report in the Chinese newspaper the International Herald Leader. The article said military hotline construction would be a part of China's military diplomacy.

Japan is also in talks with China to open a military hotline, according to a March 31 report in the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun.

Teng said these moves would be helpful in creating a safe and stable neighborhood for China. But he also predicted that the "temperatures" of these possible hotlines would be different, based on the different levels of mutual trust between the countries based on their bilateral relations and military communications.