Building a Wary Rapport With China

[livvy]

Lt. Gen. Jiang Jianzeng greets airmen with the 535th Airlift Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Proponents of military-to-military exercises say they are a valuable form of diplomacy; critics say they're window dressing.


Building a Wary Rapport With China

By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Dec 12, 2008 17:00:34 EST

The U.S. and China have a long relationship that often has been characterized by mutual suspicion. One step forward in relations is often followed by one step back.

But behind the scenes, overshadowed by jockeying between the countries’ diplomats and statesmen, the U.S. and Chinese militaries have plodded forward, building relationships that Pacific Air Forces leaders hope will create the basis for future cooperation in the region.

“The overall U.S.-China relationship has been improving, and foster mutual understanding and prevent misunderstanding and miscalculation,” said Brian Woo, foreign policy adviser to PacAF commander Gen. Howie Chandler. “It moves us toward a multilateral environment that is more constructive.”

In 2008, PacAF and U.S. Pacific Command conducted several exchanges of senior leaders and noncommissioned officers, and more are expected in 2009. The Chinese in October suspended military exchanges for the rest of the year because of outrage over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, but Woo said he expects them to resume next year.

Still, regional experts and PacAF officials disagree about the value of such military-to-military relations. Woo and Chandler maintain they are essential to U.S. strategy in the Pacific, but some analysts argue

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