A Chinese navy flotilla comprising the Qingdao guided missile destroyer and the Taicang logistical supply ship returned to Qingdao, Shandong Province on September 23 after a successful round the world cruise. In four months they had covered more than 30,000 nautical miles on the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. Their goodwill visits had taken them to Singapore, Egypt, Turkey, Ukraine, Greece, Portugal, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru. This was a tour of duty which set new milestones in Chinese navy history in terms of the most countries visited, the longest time on tour, the longest voyage and the greatest influence.
According to the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense, the Chinese People?s Liberation Army (PLA) has to date established military relations with 146 countries. Military Attach? Offices have been set up in 103 countries and 74 have reciprocated with their own Military Attach? Offices in China.
Over the past 20 years, China has sent over 1,600 military delegations to 90 countries and in return received 2,500 military delegations from abroad. More than half have included delegates at the level of Minister of Defense, Commander-in-chief of the Armed forces, Chief of the General Staff and other top military leaders.
Meanwhile the PLA Military Academy has significantly stepped up its activities in exchanges and technical cooperation. Dozens of countries have been involved in hundreds of technical exchanges and more and more PLA military students have been sent abroad to further their studies.
In recent years the PLA has developed its exchanges with military personnel of neighboring countries in order to further develop and consolidate friendly cooperation. In particular the PLA has been proactive in its exchanges with the armed services of the northeast Asian nations.
All this serves to show that Chinese military diplomacy has been moving into a new stage of development worldwide.
North Korea
In October 2000, General Chi Haotian, Chinese defense minister and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), led a high-level military delegation to the Democratic People?s Republic of Korea (DPRK). They participated in North Korea?s activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a Chinese People?s Volunteer Army entering DPRK to fight side by side with them against US aggression. This was a visit with deep significance for the relationship between the troops of the two countries. Further friendly military exchanges were to take place between the two countries at a variety of levels and in a number of fields in the following year.
South Korea
At the same time, the PLA saw progress in its relations with the armed services of the Republic of Korea (ROK). In January 2001 General Chi Haotian visited ROK. This was the first visit to South Korea by a Chinese Defense Minister since the two countries established diplomatic relations. This first meeting was significant in promoting friendly relations between the two militaries. The visit made a positive contribution to stability in the Korean Peninsula. In October 2001 a ROK naval flotilla visited China and in May 2002, the Chinese navy made a return visit.
ASEAN and South Asian Countries
There has been an ongoing process of strengthening military contacts with ASEAN and south Asian countries. In February 2001, General Chi Haotian visited Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Nepal. He exchanged views with state and military leaders of the four countries. Broad agreement was reached on bilateral relations, the international and regional situations, military exchanges and cooperation.
In January 2001, the Secretary of Defense of the Philippines visited China. In June the same year Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, Thailand?s deputy prime minister and minister of defense, paid a visit to China. Six months later the first security meeting of the defense ministries of the two countries was held. Meanwhile the PLA was continuing the trend through military exchanges with Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
India and Pakistan
Contacts are continuing with both Indian and Pakistani militaries. In May 2000, a delegation from the Indian National University of Defense visited China. Three months later Chinese military delegations visited India. These exchanges promoted a restoration and development of relations between the armed services of China and India. In May 2001, AY Tipnis, chief of the air staff of the Indian Air Force paid a visit to China and a Chinese National Defense University delegation visited India. A month earlier Fu Quanyou, chief of the general staff of the Chinese PLA, had visited Pakistan and met with top leader General Pervez Musharraf. Their exchange of views served to deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries.
Central Asia
A new framework facilitating military exchanges with the Central Asian nations is now in place. In June 2001, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan announced the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The founding of the SCO is in the interests of the six countries involved and is in line with the wishes of their peoples. It will benefit peace and development not only in the region but also in the world at large.
In May 2002, General Chi Haotian attended the Moscow meeting of the Defense Ministers of the SCO member countries. This provided a forum for the Defense Ministers to discuss the international and regional situations, military cooperation among SCO members and the ongoing fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism. They reached a broad consensus leading to the signing of a joint communiqu?.
Japan
Military exchanges have taken place with Japan. In April 2000, Fu Quanyou, a member of China?s CMC and chief of the general staff paid a formal, friendly visit to Japan. Two months later, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Japan paid a return visit to China so realizing their first mutual exchange of visits. The national defense departments of the two countries also successfully held a third meeting where they exchanged views on national defense issues. In addition in February 2001, a Chinese military delegation visited Japan and in return a Japanese Defense Agency delegation visited China further promoting relations between the two militaries.
Russia
Maintaining the trend in high-level exchanges, China and Russia have recently been strengthening and further developing the relations between their armies.
In January 2000 General Chi Haotian led a delegation to Russia. Just five months later another Chinese military delegation headed by Xu Caihou, CMC member and deputy director of the General Political Department of the Chinese PLA, left for an official good-will visit to Russia.
In February 2001, General Zhang Wannian, also a vice-chairman of China?s CMC, paid an official visit to Russia and was received by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. They exchanged views on further developing the strategic partnership of cooperation and on a wide range of issues of common interest. A broad consensus was reached.
In October 2001, Anatoly Kvashnin, chief of the general staff of the Russian Armed Forces, visited China and met with General Zhang Wannian. Both Chinese and Russian sides spoke highly of the ?Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation Between the People?s Republic of China and the Russian Federation? signed by the presidents of the two countries in Moscow. They said the treaty provided a sound legal foundation for long-term friendly and neighborly relations for the two countries. Speaking in terms of its epoch-making significance they hailed it as a milestone in Sino-Russian relations and a model for Sino-Russian relations in the new century.
In November 2001, representatives of the General Staffs of the two countries met for a fifth round of strategic consultation. They explored such issues as Sino-Russian relations, the international and regional situations, military cooperation and joint efforts in the fight against terrorism following Sept. 11 attacks. Both sides agreed that ongoing strategic consultation between the headquarters personnel of the General Staffs of the two countries was commensurate with the strategic partnership of cooperation.
In May 2002, Minister Sergei Ivanov visited China for talks with General Chi Haotian. During his visit he also met Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu Rongji and General Zhang Wannian. Both sides spoke highly of the development of the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two armies within the framework of the Sino-Russian Strategic Partnership of Cooperation. They exchanged views on issues of common concern to help facilitate a practical, reliable and cooperative military relationship.
US
The Chinese army has developed military relationships with the United States in line with the diplomatic policy of the Chinese government.
In July 2000 Former US Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen visited China. In October of the same year General Yu Yongbo, CMC member and director of the PLA?s General Political Department visited the United States.
In September 2001, the Sino-US Military Maritime Consultative Agreement Meeting was held in Guam. The two countries agreed to resume military contacts. These had been suspended as a result of the mid-air collision of the US spy plane and the Chinese jet. Following September 11 attacks, China and the US have already begun to cooperate in the field of anti-terrorism. This has further eased tensions between the militaries of the two countries.
EU Countries
Meanwhile, military relationships between China and European Union (EU) countries have been developing smoothly.
In January 2001, General Fu Quanyou paid an official goodwill visit to Greece. This was the first time a Chief-of-Staff of China?s PLA had visited that country. In May of the same year General Wang Ke, CMC member and director of the General Logistics Department, paid goodwill visits to Germany and Britain. In December, a delegation headed by General Guo Boxiong, CMC member and executive deputy chief of the general staff of the PLA visited Spain and Portugal.
In June 2002, General Cao Gangchuan, CMC member and director of the General Armaments Department of the PLA visited Italy and France. The Defense Ministers of Germany, Demark and Netherlands and Italy's Secretary General of Defense as well as senior delegations from the armed services of a number of EU countries including Britain, Greece and France also visited China.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand
The Chinese military has attached great importance to developing relationships with Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
In February 2000, Canadian Assistant Deputy Minister for the Department of National Defense Ken Calder visited China. In doing so he became the highest-ranking Canadian military official to visit China since 1989. In September of the same year, General Chi Haotian visited Canada.
In March 2001, General Zhang Wannian paid official goodwill visits to Australia and New Zealand. This has furthered relationships between China and two key countries in the South Pacific region.
Africa
Military exchanges with African countries have been strengthened.
In June 2000, General Cao Gangchun visited Israel. In November, General Chi Haotian visited Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. Also in that year, in their first official visit to the African continent, Chinese naval personnel visited Tanzania and South Africa. This was to be a year that saw Chinese military delegations visiting no fewer than 18 African countries.
In September 2001, General Chi Haotian visited Cote d?Ivoire and Nigeria. In November of the same year, General Fu Quanyou visited Zambia, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. Meanwhile this was to be a year in which China received over 30 military delegations from the continent of Africa. Among the visitors were Gabon?s Defense Minister and the Commander of the South African National Defense Force. In December, China signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation with the South African government. This marked the beginning of a new era of development for the two countries? military relationships.
Latin America
This region is seen as an important component of the developing countries.
In recent years there has been increasing activity in military exchanges between China and Latin American countries and breakthroughs have been achieved. As more and more countries have started to develop military contacts with China, the fields of cooperation have been continuously extended.
In April 2000, General Guo Boxiong visited Argentina, Brazil and Chile. In December of that same year General Fu Quanyou visited Venezuela and Cuba.
In August 2001, General Chi Haotian was invited to pay goodwill visits to Columbia, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. This was the first time a Chinese Defense Minister had visited any of the three countries. In the same year Chinese military delegations visited Cuba, Venezuela, Columbia, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador and Bolivia. These visits have further promoted friendly exchanges between China and Latin American countries.
Multilateral Peacekeeping Operations and Diplomatic Activities
As a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations (UN), China attaches great importance to the United Nations. China plays its proper part in supporting the UN in its role in maintaining international peace and security guided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
China sent military observers to UN peacekeeping operations for the first time in 1990. Since then China has already contributed 600 military observers, liaison officers, advisers and staff officers. In addition 800 engineering personnel deployed in two detachments have taken part in ten UN peacekeeping operations.
The Chinese army actively supports multi-level and multi-channel dialogue and cooperation as a means of maintaining regional security. These should proceed in an orderly and gradual manner and be conducted on a basis of equality. Consultation should seek to establish common ground while reserving differences.
Besides bilateral consultation with Russia and Thailand, the Chinese army has conducted various security consultations and meetings with such countries as the United States, Britain, French, Germany, Japan, Canada and Australia. These exchanges have explored further avenues for bilateral cooperation. They have promoted mutual trust and provided opportunities for sharing information on areas of concern.
The Chinese army has played an active role in multilateral security operations in the Asian Pacific region. In the last two years, the Chinese army has participated in the Asian Pacific Regional Security Conference, the Asia-Pacific Defense Forum, the North East Asia Conference and the ASEAN Regional Forum as well as various multilateral security seminars. China has also sent observers to Cobra Gold 2002 which was a Joint Military Exercise in Thailand, and to mine clearance and search and rescue exercises in the West Pacific region.
By taking part in multilateral security operations, China has given a great deal of publicity to its diplomacy and defense policies. This is conducive to establishing mutual trust and easing uncertainties about China?s policies.
(china.org.cn by Li Jinhui and Wang Qian, October 11, 2002)
