Page 2 of 2 Chinese general on a long march
By Peter J Brown
Fisher came away from Xu's speech with the impression that Xu apparently had no
interest in fully addressing real concerns about China's rapidly growing hard
military capabilities. This explains the long video on the PLA's response to
the May 2008 earthquake, and the "most prominent theme" in Xu's speech - the
military-operations-other-than-war dimension of PLA force deployments.
"Xu sought to address concerns about China's military buildup as being based on
misperceptions in some foreign reports," said Fisher.
Retired US Navy Rear Admiral Eric McVadon, director of Asia-Pacific Studies at
the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis, was
contacted in Beijing where he was presenting a paper at the 8th International
Symposium on Sun Tzu's Art of War. In his paper, McVadon stresses the
importance of maritime cooperation across military and commercial areas.
"Such engagement would help especially to de-conflict US and Chinese strategic
intentions as China emerges economically and militarily. Future areas of
cooperation could include cooperative initiatives in the fields of fishing and
other extraction of ocean and seabed resources, maritime safety, oceanography,
hydrography, ship construction, coast guard and other law-enforcement
responsibilities in a more dangerous world," wrote McVadon. "Anti-pollution
efforts, disaster relief operations and scientific activities such as weather
and sea forecasting, climate research and tsunami detection would also
represent the kind of constructive engagement across many fronts that would
reinforce what will undoubtedly be the world's most important strategic
relationship in the 21st century."
While the US and China have engaged in joint search and rescue missions and
training in the past, McVadon believes the time is right for more extensive and
purposeful interaction in terms of disaster response in particular, and that
East Asia as a whole should welcome the prospect - as desired and appropriate -
"of a combined response from US and Chinese military forces - as well as help
from others".
"As a practical matter, the time is right for a move toward the conduct of
China-US humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises, specifically
including naval exercises. Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
operations and exercises are permitted [under the US National Defense
Authorization Act of 2000] and seemingly even encouraged by virtue of this
specific exclusion from the list of restricted activities," said McVadon. "The
PLA Navy and US Navy should exercise in advance so that the Chinese forces,
including the new large amphibious ship and a new hospital ship, feel confident
and poised in this new undertaking for them."
For a new generation of military officers and leaders in both countries as
well, the visit by Xu to the US demonstrates that the 21st century is going to
be far different than the preceding century.
"It is obvious that Xu's visit is very significant," said Paul Smith, professor
of national security affairs at the US Naval War College. "China is engaged in
a breakout strategy that impinges upon - and possibly disrupts and challenges -
the security architecture that the US has held in place since the end of World
War II. This means tension is inevitable which will become painfully obvious
when the next 'event' occurs.
"When I teach the current generation of US officers who are being shaped by the
'post Cold War' era experience, there is little passion about the need for the
US to defend or support Taiwan, for example. It is up there with sanctions on
Cuba, which is a relic of an earlier era, designed to satisfy the narrow
interests of key interest groups whose power is waning."
Before returning home, Xu's last stop was in Hawaii where he arrived after
visiting a US Navy air station in San Diego, California. In Honolulu, Xu was
scheduled to meet with US Navy Admiral Robert Willard, commander of the US
Pacific Command. However, the writing was on the wall long before Xu's plane
landed. Regardless of the outcome, the presence of Rear Admiral Jiang Weilie in
the delegation in particular, gave discussions of recent incidents in
international waters added importance.
"[China interprets] military operations in their [EEZ] differently than we do -
and differently, frankly, than the majority of countries do globally," Willard
said recently. "We are more than happy to sit down and have an adult discussion
about our differences."
According to Denmark, China's behavior in the Indian Ocean stands in sharp
contrast to its behavior in the South China Sea and the Western Pacific Ocean
"where Chinese surface ships have acted unprofessionally and irresponsibly by
sailing dangerously close to US ships operating in international waters, and
Chinese submarines have unexpectedly surfaced extremely close to a US aircraft
carrier".
"This behavior is remarkably similar to the actions practiced by Chinese pilots
in 2000, which precipitated the 2001 EP-3 incident," said Denmark, in reference
to a mid-air collision southeast of Hainan island, southern China, between a US
surveillance aircraft and a Chinese interceptor jet. The situation is vastly
different in the Indian Ocean because "China is inhibited there both by its own
lack of military capabilities, but more importantly by political
considerations."
"China's leaders have been trumpeting its 'peaceful rise' and the need for a
'harmonious world' for years, in part to allay regional concerns about China's
expanding economic, political, and military power. Acting assertively in the
Indian Ocean would only reinforce these concerns," said Denmark.
As for the South China Sea, Willard has emphasized repeatedly that the US is
going to hold firm and is not planning to exit under any circumstance.
"The US has operated in the maritime domain in this region of the world for 150
years, and we have no intention of doing differently. We very much exert our
right to operate militarily and with our commercial ships in international
water throughout the Asia-Pacific region."
Still, he views the US-China relationship as one that is evolving and is not
hostile.
"China is not our enemy. We look forward to a constructive relationship with
China, and their constructive contribution to the security of the Asia-Pacific
region," said Willard.
While both sides were intent on improving relations, there was little
indication from Xu's visit that either side was prepared give much to realize
that ambition, according to Brad Glosserman, executive director of the Pacific
Forum CSIS in Honolulu.
"The big issues in the relationship remain unchanged" and the
military-to-military relationship "remains hostage to those issues," said
Glosserman. "In particular, expect another big blow up if and when the Obama
administration decides to sell arms to Taiwan. Still, both sides send the right
signals even if they cannot follow up on them."
Peter J Brown is a freelance writer from the US state of Maine.
(Copyright 2009 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights reserved. Please
contact us about
sales, syndication and
republishing.)
Head
Office: Unit B, 16/F, Li Dong Building, No. 9 Li Yuen Street East,
Central, Hong Kong Thailand Bureau:
11/13 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin, Prachuab Kirikhan, Thailand 77110
