Home>>China
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 19, 2002

China May Cancel Navy Fleet Visit to the US

The United States has cast a chill over the recovering Sino-US relations by insisting on inviting Tang Yiau-min, the "defense minister" of Taiwan, to attend the so-called "US-Taiwan defense meeting" held in St Petersburg in Florida regardless of representations by the Chinese side, and China might cancel its navy fleet to the US scheduled later time this year, the Global Times reported on Monday.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND



U.S. Seventh Fleet's Command Ship Arrives in Shanghai
The United States has cast a chill over the recovering Sino-US relations by insisting on inviting Tang Yiau-min, the "defense minister" of Taiwan, to attend the so-called "US-Taiwan defense meeting" held in St Petersburg in Florida regardless of representations by the Chinese side, the Global Times reported on Monday.

The US's headstrong invitation has aroused strong dissatisfaction from high-ranking Chinese leaders, according to a reliable source. China's indignation will not only be shown in its doubled diplomatic negotiations but also in the military exchanges with the US side. The source, a well-informed person who remains anonymous, told reporter that China might cancel its navy fleet to the US scheduled later time this year, which would naturally affect the US fleet's China visit and make it quite impossible. The fleet visits are very important for both sides and the US military is expecting its China visit. China's cancellation may shake those hawkish people who are actively strengthening ties between the US and Taiwan through arm sales.

It is known to all fleet visits form an important part of Sino-US military exchanges. In the latter half of 1997, a Chinese navy fleet, composed of a destroyer, an escort vessel and a supply vessel, paid a good-will visit to the US, which made port calls to the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, a station of the US Pacific Fleet, and San Diego, where the Third Navy Fleet of US stationed.

After that, on August 2, 2000, the US Navy guided-missile cruiser Chancellorsville arrived in Qingdao, the first US navy ship China allowed in since the 1999 bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade by US warplanes, therefore a signal of recovering military ties between the two countries. The earliest US navy visit to China traced back to the middle 80s of the 20th century, and the August 2000 visit marked the ninth time. The visit would serve as a crucial starting point for both military sides to establish trust, said Thomas Fargo, then commander of the US Pacific Fleet.

The Sino-US military contacts are sensitive yet important. China and US are both Asia-Pacific countries and the vast Pacific Ocean is a common stage for navy activities. Beyond the 12 sea-mile territorial water the Chinese and US navies may come into contacts with each other under many circumstances. Military exchanges mirror the vicissitudes of Sino-US relations and with the relations coming into the right track, the US military is anxious to renew contacts with the Chinese side.

Kenneth W. Allen, a military expert with the Henry Stimson Center, in his report entitled "China's Military Contacts with the Outside World" submitted to the Congress, admits openly that the US military has realized that military contacts between China and the US comprise an important part of US-China relations as a whole. To develop military ties with China, especially high-level strategic talks, conforms to US's interests of national security. Therefore the US should cautiously exercise a long-term overall military contact plan with China, the report says.



By PD Online Staff Li Heng

Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced

US-Taiwan Secret Talks on Arms Sale: Analysis

China Summons US Ambassador to Make Representations



>> Full Coverage

 

Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved