U.S. Asks China to Watch Military Exercise
SHENYANG, China - A top American admiral said Monday he has invited Chinese commanders to observe a U.S. military exercise next month in a confidence-building step meant to encourage political leaders on both sides to improve military relations.
Adm. William Fallon, the commander of U.S. Pacific forces, said that in a week of talks Chinese military officials expressed interest in closer ties and dismay at a
Pentagon report this year that called Beijing a potential threat.
"They're looking for constructive engagement and so am I," Fallon said at the end of a four-city tour. "Now that we've agreed to the principle, let's move on the details."
Fallon's invitation and the reception he received are among the most positive signs in generally suspicious relations between the U.S. and Chinese militaries. While relations warmed in the 1990s, contacts have been infrequent and chilly ever since a Chinese fighter jet collided with a U.S. reconnaissance plane off southern China in 2001.
Fallon said he asked Chinese commanders to help build a "track record of confidence" that he could use in lobbying Congress to ease legal restrictions on military contacts. A 2000 law limits U.S. cooperation with the People's Liberation Army to humanitarian, disaster relief and other non-warfare activities.
Fallon said he doesn't routinely talk with his Chinese counterparts, though he described U.S.-Chinese relations as the most important issue in the Asia-Pacific region. By contrast, he said, he talked with four commanders from other Asian countries over the past week.
"We need to have confidence in the political leadership to allow these things to go on," he said.
The Bush administration has called for closer military ties with Beijing. But the issue is still contentious in Washington, with officials including Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld questioning Beijing's intentions and its willingness to reciprocate gestures such as allowing visits to sensitive facilities.
The two sides appear headed for "a stronger relationship," but close ties or joint exercises are unlikely, due to differences over
Iraq and other issues, said Robert Karniol, Asia-Pacific editor for Jane's Defense Weekly.
"They can move closer in trying to cooperate with each other on fairly simple issues such as maritime rescue," Karniol said. "But they don't share common security perspectives on a lot of things."
Fallon said he urged Chinese commanders to accept invitations to mix with U.S. and other militaries in the region — including sending a general to an annual Asian defense meeting, held this year in Malaysia — and to hold regular exchanges of lower-level officers.
The admiral said the two sides have taken steps toward lower-level exchanges in the past six months, sending officers to spend several weeks in each others' countries.
"I believe we need to start moving down this road, and the sooner we do it, the better off we will be," he said.
Fallon said he invited Chinese military officers to watch the Guam exercises from aboard a U.S. warship on June 17-19.
He said he told Chinese officials that Washington hoped for similar invitations in return. He said he cited the example of massive war games held last year by China and Russia on their east coasts.
During his trip, the admiral met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Defense Minster Cao Gangchuan and regional commanders in the cities of Xi'an in the west, Shenyang in the northeast and Hangzhou on the east coast.
He was the first U.S. official allowed to visit China's 39th Infantry Regiment south of Shenyang near the North Korean border. A former Navy flier, he said that in Hangzhou he sat in the cockpit of one of China's new FB-7 fighter-bombers, "which put a big smile on my face."
Fallon said Defense Minister Cao expressed concern about the Pentagon's
Quadrennial Defense Review, released in February, which described China as a potential threat, and said Beijing hoped future reports would be "more constructive."
Fallon defended the review, saying U.S. officials were working with minimal information due to the Chinese military's secrecy. He pressed the minister to release more details.
China has alarmed its neighbors with double-digit spending increases for the 2.3 million-member PLA, the world's biggest fighting force, nearly every year for a decade. It has spent heavily on Russian submarines, fighter jets and other high-tech weaponry, and has hundreds of missiles aimed at Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own territory.
Beijing counters with vague statements that its intentions are peaceful and defensive and says that much of the increase is to improve conditions for its troops.
Chinese state media said Fallon's trip might result in the creation of a military hot line linking Beijing with Washington.
The admiral said while such a line might be useful, given the current lack of routine communication, "I'd be very happy with plain old telephone contact."
Adm. William Fallon, the commander of U.S. Pacific forces, said that in a week of talks Chinese military officials expressed interest in closer ties and dismay at a
Pentagon report this year that called Beijing a potential threat.
"They're looking for constructive engagement and so am I," Fallon said at the end of a four-city tour. "Now that we've agreed to the principle, let's move on the details."
Fallon's invitation and the reception he received are among the most positive signs in generally suspicious relations between the U.S. and Chinese militaries. While relations warmed in the 1990s, contacts have been infrequent and chilly ever since a Chinese fighter jet collided with a U.S. reconnaissance plane off southern China in 2001.
Fallon said he asked Chinese commanders to help build a "track record of confidence" that he could use in lobbying Congress to ease legal restrictions on military contacts. A 2000 law limits U.S. cooperation with the People's Liberation Army to humanitarian, disaster relief and other non-warfare activities.
Fallon said he doesn't routinely talk with his Chinese counterparts, though he described U.S.-Chinese relations as the most important issue in the Asia-Pacific region. By contrast, he said, he talked with four commanders from other Asian countries over the past week.
"We need to have confidence in the political leadership to allow these things to go on," he said.
The Bush administration has called for closer military ties with Beijing. But the issue is still contentious in Washington, with officials including Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld questioning Beijing's intentions and its willingness to reciprocate gestures such as allowing visits to sensitive facilities.
The two sides appear headed for "a stronger relationship," but close ties or joint exercises are unlikely, due to differences over
Iraq and other issues, said Robert Karniol, Asia-Pacific editor for Jane's Defense Weekly.
"They can move closer in trying to cooperate with each other on fairly simple issues such as maritime rescue," Karniol said. "But they don't share common security perspectives on a lot of things."
Fallon said he urged Chinese commanders to accept invitations to mix with U.S. and other militaries in the region — including sending a general to an annual Asian defense meeting, held this year in Malaysia — and to hold regular exchanges of lower-level officers.
The admiral said the two sides have taken steps toward lower-level exchanges in the past six months, sending officers to spend several weeks in each others' countries.
"I believe we need to start moving down this road, and the sooner we do it, the better off we will be," he said.
Fallon said he invited Chinese military officers to watch the Guam exercises from aboard a U.S. warship on June 17-19.
He said he told Chinese officials that Washington hoped for similar invitations in return. He said he cited the example of massive war games held last year by China and Russia on their east coasts.
During his trip, the admiral met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Defense Minster Cao Gangchuan and regional commanders in the cities of Xi'an in the west, Shenyang in the northeast and Hangzhou on the east coast.
He was the first U.S. official allowed to visit China's 39th Infantry Regiment south of Shenyang near the North Korean border. A former Navy flier, he said that in Hangzhou he sat in the cockpit of one of China's new FB-7 fighter-bombers, "which put a big smile on my face."
Fallon said Defense Minister Cao expressed concern about the Pentagon's
Quadrennial Defense Review, released in February, which described China as a potential threat, and said Beijing hoped future reports would be "more constructive."
Fallon defended the review, saying U.S. officials were working with minimal information due to the Chinese military's secrecy. He pressed the minister to release more details.
China has alarmed its neighbors with double-digit spending increases for the 2.3 million-member PLA, the world's biggest fighting force, nearly every year for a decade. It has spent heavily on Russian submarines, fighter jets and other high-tech weaponry, and has hundreds of missiles aimed at Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own territory.
Beijing counters with vague statements that its intentions are peaceful and defensive and says that much of the increase is to improve conditions for its troops.
Chinese state media said Fallon's trip might result in the creation of a military hot line linking Beijing with Washington.
The admiral said while such a line might be useful, given the current lack of routine communication, "I'd be very happy with plain old telephone contact."
posted by Marko at 5/15/2006 07:59:00 AM
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