July 6 is coming and many people are wondering about the state of China-US relations due to the trade dispute which is going on right now. There are many debates and a lot of anxiety in both countries, at least in the business industries, but people have been left to wonder what will happen to other sectors of bilateral relations, such as military to military exchanges and will it be a dangerous time for both countries? 

US Defense Secretary James Mattis visited Beijing to discuss the strained trade and military ties between China and the US. Could his visit help ease some of the rising tension? 

CGTN World Insight invited Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow with the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence, who's is also the director of Research for Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution to share his opinions on this matter.

"I do agree that these issues are linked to a very broad sense, people can imagine a climate of true distrust and a lack of cooperation developing between China and US," Mr. O'Hanlon said. But, he added that "I don't see that happening right now."

Mattis’s meeting comes after the US withdrew an invitation for China to participate in Rimpac, a Pacific naval exercise, stepped up its patrols in the South China Sea, and increased military contact with Taiwan including arms sales. China and US are now having a lot of disagreements about the South China Sea, both sides are being very resolute in their positions, according to Mr. O'Hanlon, "I hope we can work toward some accommodation." 

Even though China and US have some cooperation on the DPRK issue, Mr. O'Hanlon said, "the US and China both need to be careful about the Taiwan issue, both sides actually appreciate that, although some people in Congress push this, and some people in China push this."

Overall, according to O'Hanlon, "We haven't gone to a point where all the issues are going in the wrong directions simultaneously, and I hope we will never get there."