"We are recognizing the obvious," said Admiral Timothy Keating, head of the US Pacific Command. "China's reaction here, in the aftermath of this earthquake, is different than China's reaction has been to other natural disasters in China."

"While it is catastrophic and tragic, it nonetheless is an opportunity for us to improve, increase and improve the communications we have with officials in China. And that is beneficial, from our position," he told reporters here.

Keating spoke on the same day that China's President Hu Jintao met in Beijing with the leader of Taiwan's ruling party and promised to promote peaceful relations across the Taiwan Straits.

The red carpet reception at the Great Hall of the People was the highest level contact between Beijing and Taipei since Taiwan broke away from mainland China in 1949.

Asked whether he sensed a change in the wind in China, Keating said: "The short answer is yes."

"Now, I have to temper that. We're cautiously optimistic about all this, but, you know, and you all expect us to be a little bit conservative and reserved. And you want us to be prepared in case what we're seeing is a little bit tinted through rose-colored glasses," he said.

"But we are encouraged by the dialogue between the new government in Taiwan and the current government in the People's Republic of China. We're encouraged by Taiwan leaders' presence in China to offer assistance in relief aid to the earthquake victims.

"All of these are positive signs, in our view," he said.

The earthquake gave Keating the opportunity to use a recently installed defense hotline for the first time five days after the May 12 earthquake struck southwest China.

He communicated with a Chinese lieutenant general about the arrival of the first of several US Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying plastic sheeting, chain saws, generators, water and water purification units.

A Los Angeles Fire Department urban rescue team arrived on a more recent flight, he said.

Keating said there was a "night and day difference" between China's and Myanmar's response to international offers of assistance.

Myanmar's military junta has accepted international aid only in small amounts, frustrating US efforts to pour in relief from US warships off the country's coast.

"As it happens, the Chinese tell us they have ... what they think is sufficient material. It's bodies that they need to help, and they're throwing a lot of their military at this challenge," the admiral said.

"So there's a dramatic difference in the assistance China has requested and we've provided versus what Burma isn't looking for, but we're still ready to provide," he said. US officials use Myanmar's previous official name, Burma.

Keating said Chinese military and foreign ministry officials have been helpful in relaying messages to the Burmese explaining the US position.

The admiral's comments marked a change in tone for the US military, which over the past several years has insistently raised questions about China's intentions in rapidly modernizing its military.

Those concerns could come up again this weekend when US Defense Secretary Robert Gates addresses an annual Asian security conference in Singapore, but US defense officials suggest he will tread cautiously.

"They are making progress on the transparency front, it is slow, but it is improving," a defense official traveling with Gates said.

"US disaster relief operations in China shows that when a humanitarian disaster takes place we can cooperate, in fact closely," the official said.

Keating said he did not think the earthquake would have any impact on the country's military buildup.

But he, too, said there have been some signs of progress since China surprised the world in January 2007 by shooting down one of its own weather satellites in a test.

The United States followed in February 2008 by shooting down a satellite that was falling out of orbit.

Since then, Keating said, "we have had some relatively minor communication opportunities and some relatively minor exchange opportunities."

He said they "indicate to us an increased willingness to at least consider, if not engage, in opportunities that would be beneficial for a more thorough understanding of intent, and not just transparency."

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