Liang said only that China was "studying" Mr. Gates's request for a deeper strategic dialogue, and declined to agree on specific dates for future defense talks, saying only that they would occur in the first half of 2011.

WSJ: China Takes Hard Line With U.S. on Taiwan

They were unable to determine the cause of death as some of the ducks were already decomposed, Mr Liang said, adding that the bodies had been disinfected and buried.

BBC: China pulls 1,000 dead ducks from Sichuan river

Speaking in an interview with China National Radio on Sunday, Liang Weidong, a deputy director in Pengshan's publicity department, said that the authorities were first made aware of the ducks on Tuesday.

BBC: China pulls 1,000 dead ducks from Sichuan river

Liang said he recognized the U.S. desire for military-to-military ties that are uninterrupted by political disagreements.

WSJ: China Takes Hard Line With U.S. on Taiwan

"On the basis of our analysis, I think they were turning a blind-eye, " said Bryan Liang, a California Western School of Law professor who published a 2009 report that found Google and others were profiting from online ads paid for by illegal drug sellers.

WSJ: Google Was Warned on Rogue Drug Ads

"There is that satisfaction that you get when something is completed and it's completed well, " said Jennifer Liang, a 33-year-old special-education teacher from Atlanta.

WSJ: A Last Turn for Wheel