SINGAPORE — China's charm offensive is in full swing at the biennial International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) taking place in Singapore here this week.
On the second day of IMDEX, the commander of China's South Sea Fleet spoke at the International Maritime Security Conference about on joint efforts among on the part of China, its regional neighbors and the United States to building a "safe and harmonious ocean."
Rear Adm. Shen Jinlong cited Chinese President Xi Jinping's declaration at last year's fourth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Shanghai in 2014 that China would help build a new security framework in cooperation with its neighbors to ensure peace.
"We have normalized the maritime consultation mechanism with US Navy built on communication and coordination mechanism with many countries' counterparts and regularly exchanged maritime information," Shen said.
Shen said that last year, China and the US agreed on a new edition of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) during the 14th Western Pacific Naval Symposium held in Qingdao, China. The US and China also signed a memorandum of understanding on Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) and on the Rules of Behavior for the Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters. (ROB)for the Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters, "which are of great significance on ensuring the safety of maritime navigation..."
For context, There have been several incidents over the years between the US Navy and the Chinese military and/or government enforcement agencies, starting with the 2001 mishap of a U.S. Navy EP-3 surveillance aircraft with a J-8 fighter resulting in the forced landing of the American aircraft on Hainan Island.
of a US Navy EP-3 surveillance aircraft with a J-8 fighter resulting in the death of a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) pilot and the forced landing of the EP-3 on China's island of Hainan.
But Shen focused on the positive during his speech and made few references to tensions between regional neighbors and the US over territorial disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
Instead, heShen pointed to the PLAN's participation in anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden; search and rescue operations for survivors of a missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft in March 2014; humanitarian assistance by the Peace Ark hospital ship in Africa, Asia, South America and the South Pacific; and the evacuation of Chinese citizens from Yemen in April.
"We should abandon the mentality of the Cold War, and never deal with maritime security from a zero-sum mindset," Shen said.
His comments echo Chinese state-controlled media reports and government officials who have long complained that the US continues to respond to issues involving China from a Cold War perspective. It should be noted that Chinese media is state-controlled and that the government of China is a one-Party system.
Later that the same day, US Navy Rear Adm. Charles Williams, commander of the Logistics Group Western Pacific, toured the Chinese frigate Yulin, a Type 54A Jiangkai II-class frigate. The reception by the Chinese crew was exceptionally friendly. Williams is the Logistics Group Western Pacific Commander, Task force 73, Singapore Area Coordinator.Williams and his entourage inspected the ship, led by the Yulin's executive officer.
The 4,000-ton ship is outfitted with a 32-cell medium-range HQ-16 surface-to-air missile vertical launch system, 76mm bow gun and eight C-803 anti-ship/land-attack cruise missiles.
The 10th IMDEX was held at Singapore's Changi Exhibition Centre from May 19-20. is being heldcontinues at Singapore's Changi Exhibition Centre through fromMay 19-20. This is Defense News' fifth IMDEX coverage, begun in 2007.
Email: wminnick@defensenews.com
