China and US defense chiefs hold annual security forum

The defense chiefs of the United States and China will hold rare direct talks in Singapore on Friday. The officials are expected to discuss security issues in Asia and the South China Sea from spinning out of control. They began the talks at Shangri-La hotel hosting the security forum, according to officials.

Defense chiefs and officials from around the world are attending the annual forum that has in recent years become a barometer of US-China relations. Dialogue will be the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries' defense chiefs in 18 months.