US President Barack Obama broke with a two-decades long precedent last week when he did not meet General Fan Changlong, the Vice Chairman of China's powerful Central Military Commission, during his five-day trip to Washington that commenced on June 15, 2015. A senior adviser at a US-based think tank said the White House decided against a meeting, despite the Pentagon recommending that it go ahead. US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter hosted an event for General Fan Changlong at the Pentagon which was attended by few high-ranking military officials and did not feature the customary 19-gun salute.