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In 2014 Beijing and Canberra agreed on a program of enhanced military cooperation for 2015 that included training, exchanges and service-to-service engagement. This enhanced cooperation was on display yesterday when the Royal Australian Navy and Peoples Liberation Army Navy trained together in a live-fire training exercise. The live-fire training was part of a three day exercise that included a Zhanjiang port visit by HMA ships, mariner skills training and discussions on the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.
As an Australian and global citizen I was alarmed by the recent actions of the US navy in the South China Sea because not only do these immature and irresponsible US actions increase the risk of accidents and misunderstandings between the US and China at sea but they also damage trust and harmony between our two superpowers. I have said in the past that USA needs to adopt a more mature approach to diplomacy and in my opinion the recent antics of US side in the South China Sea is yet another example of immature and dangerous US diplomacy.
Cooperation between East and West is vital to the future of the global community and in my opinion the Australia and China relationship that promotes understanding and cooperation is superior to the US approach of military provocation and intimidation toward China. Instead of adopting a threatening 'posture' the US would do more to promote peace and stability by following Australias lead and adopting a more friendly 'posture' toward China. Australia and China have recently agreed on an important FTA between our two nations and we are also strengthening our relationship through military cooperation - with the recent live-fire training exercise a symbol of this.
“The conduct of these activities between navies is the oldest form of international diplomacy and is fundamental in developing our understanding and cooperation between the RAN and the PLA-N.” - Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC
We all remember the US sides immature cowboy diplomacy when the they sent US bombers to violate the Chinese ADIZ back in 2013 and this recent US navel buzzing of the Chinese island in the South China Sea is proof that nothing has changed. The immature US approach to diplomacy does nothing to promote cooperation, understanding, stability or harmony. In my opinion it is time for US diplomacy to grow up.
When Australia and China agreed last year to enhance military cooperation for 2015 the agreement was hailed by Australia's Chief of Defence Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin - "We discussed the forward program of engagement between the Department of Defence and the People's Liberation Army in 2015, including strategic dialogue, service engagement, practical cooperation activities, personnel exchanges and training and education opportunities," - "Our ability to discuss issues in an open and transparent way is a sign of the growing maturity in our defence engagement. We are committed to working with China to ensure a strong, stable and prosperous region."
This growing maturity in the China-Australia defence agreement promotes the communication and understanding that we need to ensure peace and stability for our region. Of course nations cannot be expected to agree on everything but the immature diplomatic style of the US that seeks to solve problems through provocation and intimidation must be abandoned because it is a threat to regional Asia Pacific peace and stability.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said last week that the recent US patrol of the South China Sea “threatened China’s sovereignty and national interest, endangered the safety of the island’s staff and facilities, and harmed the regional peace and stability.” Chief of the People’s Liberation Army General Staff - General Fang Fenghu said the U.S. patrol of the South China Sea had created a “disharmonious atmosphere”. It is vital that our two superpowers promote communication but for that to be possible the US side must be willing to listen. Few are impressed by their immature cowboy antics and they need to adopt a more mature approach to diplomacy. Clearly the US side can learn a lot from the strengthening China-Australia relationship.
It was good to read that US Admiral Harris is emphasizing common ground between China and the US but when it does come to disagreements the US side must avoid using its military to try to threaten and intimidate China because this is the wrong posture and it does not promote regional peace and stability - it harms it.
China-Australia live-fire training exercise
(google images)
As an Australian and global citizen I was alarmed by the recent actions of the US navy in the South China Sea because not only do these immature and irresponsible US actions increase the risk of accidents and misunderstandings between the US and China at sea but they also damage trust and harmony between our two superpowers. I have said in the past that USA needs to adopt a more mature approach to diplomacy and in my opinion the recent antics of US side in the South China Sea is yet another example of immature and dangerous US diplomacy.
Cooperation between East and West is vital to the future of the global community and in my opinion the Australia and China relationship that promotes understanding and cooperation is superior to the US approach of military provocation and intimidation toward China. Instead of adopting a threatening 'posture' the US would do more to promote peace and stability by following Australias lead and adopting a more friendly 'posture' toward China. Australia and China have recently agreed on an important FTA between our two nations and we are also strengthening our relationship through military cooperation - with the recent live-fire training exercise a symbol of this.
“The conduct of these activities between navies is the oldest form of international diplomacy and is fundamental in developing our understanding and cooperation between the RAN and the PLA-N.” - Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC
We all remember the US sides immature cowboy diplomacy when the they sent US bombers to violate the Chinese ADIZ back in 2013 and this recent US navel buzzing of the Chinese island in the South China Sea is proof that nothing has changed. The immature US approach to diplomacy does nothing to promote cooperation, understanding, stability or harmony. In my opinion it is time for US diplomacy to grow up.
When Australia and China agreed last year to enhance military cooperation for 2015 the agreement was hailed by Australia's Chief of Defence Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin - "We discussed the forward program of engagement between the Department of Defence and the People's Liberation Army in 2015, including strategic dialogue, service engagement, practical cooperation activities, personnel exchanges and training and education opportunities," - "Our ability to discuss issues in an open and transparent way is a sign of the growing maturity in our defence engagement. We are committed to working with China to ensure a strong, stable and prosperous region."
This growing maturity in the China-Australia defence agreement promotes the communication and understanding that we need to ensure peace and stability for our region. Of course nations cannot be expected to agree on everything but the immature diplomatic style of the US that seeks to solve problems through provocation and intimidation must be abandoned because it is a threat to regional Asia Pacific peace and stability.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said last week that the recent US patrol of the South China Sea “threatened China’s sovereignty and national interest, endangered the safety of the island’s staff and facilities, and harmed the regional peace and stability.” Chief of the People’s Liberation Army General Staff - General Fang Fenghu said the U.S. patrol of the South China Sea had created a “disharmonious atmosphere”. It is vital that our two superpowers promote communication but for that to be possible the US side must be willing to listen. Few are impressed by their immature cowboy antics and they need to adopt a more mature approach to diplomacy. Clearly the US side can learn a lot from the strengthening China-Australia relationship.
It was good to read that US Admiral Harris is emphasizing common ground between China and the US but when it does come to disagreements the US side must avoid using its military to try to threaten and intimidate China because this is the wrong posture and it does not promote regional peace and stability - it harms it.
China-Australia live-fire training exercise
(google images)
