RimPac shows China-US ties are manageable
Updated: 2016-06-30 08:25
By LU YIN(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
Sailors from Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) run after unhooking a U.S. Navy UH60 Seahawk as it prepares to take off from the PLA ship Peace Ark during the multi-national military exercise RIMPAC in Honolulu, Hawaii, July 23, 2014. [Photo/Agencies] |
China will participate in this year's Rim of the Pacific Exercise, a biennial joint military drill among 27 countries including the United States, from Thursday. As in 2014, this year too it will take part in "outer" RimPac programs such as humanitarian assistance and anti-terrorism.
China's participation in the US-led RimPac once again shows that the situation in the South China Sea is under control and the possibility of a military conflict remote. Although some countries that have maritime disputes with China have been speculating a possible China-US conflict, RimPac proves them wrong. In fact, Beijing and Washington are expanding their cooperation amid competition.
RimPac is important because it sees the positive interaction of the Chinese and US navies, and shows the two sides are on track to develop a "new type of major-power relationship", as advocated by President Xi Jinping.
More importantly, compared with last time, China has been invited to take part in more drills such as gunfire, damage control and search and rescue operation, signifying the development of trust between the Chinese and US navies. But the drills China takes part in will still be "peripheral", instead of core programs. This suggests China and the US need more time to deepen mutual trust. Also, the two countries' navies will take time to adjust to each other in aspects such as technological standards. And the right way they can do this is to start with joint drills in RimPac's "outer" programs.
The two key RimPac programs China has participated in are anti-terrorism and humanitarian assistance, which are major challenges for Asia-Pacific countries, including China and the US, and both major powers need to work together to meet them. The Chinese navy has already vowed to work with its US counterpart to overcome the common threats.
Of course, the China-US military and security relationship is not without problems. And the most notable problem troubling the relationship is some US allies' territorial disputes with China.
Given this fact, the US needs to keep its promise not to take side on the territorial disputes and avoid being dragged into any conflict provoked by a third party. The US should also honor is promise of helping keep the South China Sea disputes under control.
The US and China need to have more military interactions to deepen mutual trust and avoid misjudging each other's strategic moves.
The author is a colonel and associate researcher at the Institute of Strategic Studies, National Defense University. The article is an excerpt from her interview with China Daily's Zhang Zhouxiang.
- Hillary Clinton boasts double-digit lead over Trump: poll
- First New York Pride March since Orlando shooting targets gun control
- Intl experts question proceedings of South China Sea arbitration
- South China Sea tribunal has no legal validity
- Cambodia positions itself along new Silk Road: media
- UK opposition leader Corbyn says will not resign after Brexit vote
- Paintings on paddy fields in Shenyang, NE China
- Rio 2016 Olympic medals under preparation
- London protesters reject Brexit, stand with EU
- David Beckham promotes football in South China school
- Made-in-China regional jet starts commercial operation
- Iceland shock England 2-1 to reach quarterfinals
- Former NBA player Kobe instructs young players
- The world in photos: June 20-26
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Abe's blame game reveals his policies failing to get results
Ending wildlife trafficking must be policy priority in Asia
Effects of supply-side reform take time to be seen
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi to meet Kerry
Chinese stocks surge on back of MSCI rumors
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |