BEIJING, May 22 (UPI) -- China, after taking in foreign medical and rescue groups for its earthquake relief effort, is now willing to accept similar help from foreign militaries.
Defense Ministry spokesman Hu Changming said the government will respond positively to relief offers from foreign militaries, China Daily reported.
"If a foreign military is willing to offer help, we will respond positively following diplomatic procedures," he said while briefing foreign military attaches on the Chinese military's disaster relief operation.
A U.S. military plane carrying $700,000 of supplies, which landed Sunday in Chengdu in the quake-hit Sichuan province, is the first such foreign military-aided project China allowed in the latest disaster. Several other countries since then have sent military cargo planes with needed materials.
China, which first felt its own disaster relief was sufficient to meet the challenge, later began accepting offers of help from foreign nations.
"The international community's access to information is smooth, and China is open to international material and personnel aid," Hu said. "I believe you have seen a more open and confident Chinese military."
The briefing was the first hosted by the defense ministry's newly formed information office, the report said.