Despite tensions between
the United States and China over the South China Sea, the two nations’
militaries train together at a very high level. Current “mil-mil” engagements
are robust, with China participating in the world’s largest international
maritime exercise, RIMPAC 2014, which is hosted biannually by the US Pacific
Command. The drills allowed China to learn a great deal about US tactics,
techniques and procedures (in military shorthand, “TTPs”).
But even as the United
States provided China with its highest-level access to military drills, the US
military leadership consistently ratcheted up the level of confrontation in the
South China Sea. Most recently, a top US Navy admiral participated in a
surveillance flight in the region. The United States is at once inching closer
to armed confrontation, while at the same time training Chinese forces in the
American way of war.
RIMPAC is one of many
occasions when US forces have trained their Chinese counterparts. China has
participated in US-led counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean since
2008. Initially, due to language difficulties and unfamiliarity with American
and allied forces tactics, techniques and procedures, China was given a
separate area to patrol. But over the last seven years, cooperation has become
closer, as the United States sought greater coordination of operations and
closer relations with Chinese ships, by conducting combined exercises in 2013
and again in 2014.
This increased
interoperability allowed Chinese forces to learn counter-piracy tactics,
techniques and procedures, especially those relating to how to support ships
that are deployed far from land, for long periods of time. They also learned
how to properly run visits and time off for their troops in foreign ports, and
how to configure ships to be both efficient and comfortable for the seamen.
From the US Navy, the Chinese learned that allowing telephone contact with
family at home enhanced — rather than hurt — troop morale and discipline. The
Chinese were also able to study American methods for destroying chemical
weapons, as they aided the US Navy in destroying Syria’s surrendered weapons.
China has upped the
ante by deploying a nuclear submarine escort for its ships engaged in
counter-piracy missions — an added level of protection. To get live training,
the United States will track any Chinese submarines as hostile, even in a
cooperative environment. China knows this, and is able to use its participation
in the international effort to explore the anti-submarine warfare tactics of
the US forces stationed on Diego Garcia Island, south of India, as well as
those of US and allied forces in the Gulf of Aden.
Chinese ships
regularly visit Djibouti, home of America’s Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of
Africa, which is responsible for countering violent extremists in Africa. In
Djibouti, Chinese forces learn how the United States staffs and operates this
task force. Throughout all of its counter-piracy operations, China has adopted
the EU’s MERCURY communications network, which allows navies to share in real
time data on vessels being tracked, and also to conduct ship-to-ship voice,
data and email communication. The communication network allows China to
understand exactly how NATO allies coordinate efforts in every stage of sea
battle, from planning to execution to assessment.
Cooperation between
American and Chinese armed forces goes well beyond RIMPAC and the
counter-piracy efforts. In February, 29 Chinese combat naval officers visited
the United States, touring the Naval Academy, the Navy War College and the
Surface Warfare Officers School, where they participated in training on the US
interpretation of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, an agreement
between 21 countries that establishes rules of the road for how to prevent an escalation
of tensions between different militaries at sea.
While the goal of
attempting to reduce miscommunication is admirable, the training also allowed
China to learn exactly how a US vessel will respond to a sudden encounter with
a foreign vessel — invaluable information if the foreign vessel has hostile
intent. Chinese and US Naval personnel have also conducted joint training on
Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response, and plan to conduct joint training
on search and rescue over the next couple of weeks.
The US military’s
decision to train Chinese forces has provoked a mixed response in military and
political circles. Retired Admiral James Lyons wrote that: “the nature of
regimes matter. We are now helping an incurably aggressive state develop its
military — to our peril. There is something very wrong at the core of the Obama
administration’s and the Pentagon’s China policies.”
While I disagree with
the Obama administration’s China policy, I do not think cutting military
engagements is the solution. On the contrary, I agree with National Security
Advisor Susan Rice, who has recently called for closer mil-mil relations.
As I have argued
before, an aggressive approach to China in the South China Sea is contrary to
US interests. The United States should dial down its public rhetoric against
China, and refrain from aggressive military action. Such actions are
counter-productive and short-sighted. The United States should enhance mil-mil
cooperation, taking care to protect its most sensitive tactics, techniques and
procedures. So long as there are no shots fired, we should leave the South
China Sea to the diplomats.
Bill Johnson is a
retired US Air Force officer, and a retired Foreign Service officer.
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