File photo: VCG

China on Thursday refuted U.S. accusations about failing to attend the senior-level meetings between the two militaries slated for this week.

The U.S. military on Wednesday said China didn't appear at the virtual bilateral meeting, while Phil Davidson – the top U.S. admiral for the Asia-Pacific – accused China of not honoring its agreements.

"By understanding, the responsibility for the fact that the two militaries have not yet held the relevant meetings of the 2020 U.S.-China Maritime Military Security Consultation Mechanism lies entirely with the U.S. side," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin noted at a regular press conference.

The U.S. military's accusation is completely untenable and irresponsible, he added.

The two countries signed the Sino-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement in 1998 and hold bilateral meetings annually, which have played an active role in promoting Sino-U.S. maritime security.