Source: Global Times | 2017-06-08
Editor's Note:
It has been confirmed by the US Navy that China has been invited to attend next year's Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC 2018), the world's largest biennial international maritime exercises. If China accepts the invitation it would mark the third consecutive time for People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships and personnel to participate in the naval drills. What are the implications if China participates in RIMPAC 2018? Will it help in taking joint actions to cope with future crisis? Global Times reporter Ma Linna interviewed two Chinese scholars on this issue.
Shen Dingli, deputy dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University
The US hosts the RIMPAC exercises every two years not only to demonstrate its military power. The naval drill also provides the country with an opportunity to discern the military strength of the other participants, which will be helpful for the US to take initiative in future military operations.
At the same time, participating in the RIMPAC will be conducive to coping with non-traditional security issues through concerted efforts from both China and the US. Furthermore, China can similarly gain a deeper insight into US military capabilities.
Live-fire drills, of course, would not be involved in the RIMPAC, as the parties participating in the drills are actually in a competitive relationship with each other. The RIMPAC is mainly concerned with non-traditional security issues. It aims at turning potential opponents into cooperative partners and lowering the risk of resorting to force in resolving conflicts. Moreover, it showcases the US' willingness to cooperate with China, a preferred military strategy favored by the Obama administration.
There are many ongoing security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, such as the Taiwan question, the Diaoyu Islands dispute, the South China Sea issue and terrorism. China is also faced with the possibility of military conflicts on sensitive issues. Naval drills alone cannot help resolve in-depth problems.
The chance of conflicts between China and the US will not vanish so long as the US continues its arms sales to Taiwan and the North Korea continues its nuclear and missile tests.
China and the US are both mature in their international exchanges nowadays. The naval drills can also be construed as a strategy of reconciliation in order to ease possible confrontations with more collaborative relations. However, the RIMPAC alone is no guarantee that there will be no further tensions or conflicts in the future.
Zhang Junshe, research fellow at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute
The RIMPAC showcases a common wish to promote relations between the Chinese and US militaries by both countries. China and the US have divergences over some issues, but both countries hope to be able to control and mitigate these differences. It is of vital importance to maintain regional security and stability, which accords with the fundamental interests of the Chinese and American people.
Participating in the RIMPAC will benefit both sides. It will reveal the openness of the PLAN and China's willingness to continue cooperation with navies from other countries. The RIMPAC will also provide an opportunity for China to deepen understanding and strengthen mutual trust with other participants, including the US.
It is natural for disputes to develop between major powers such as China and the US. Taking part in the RIMPAC will be unlikely to exert a direct influence on settling disputes. However, it can be conducive to easing and managing conflicts in an indirect manner.
China attending the RIMPAC initiated by the US can be expected to produce positive impacts on the interactions between both countries in the Asia-Pacific region.