This spring, China’s navy accepted the Pentagon’s invitation to participate in the 2014 Rim of the Pacific ”” RIMPAC ”” naval exercise to be held off Hawaii. This will be the first time China takes part in the biennial event.
Our allies should signal their intent to withdraw from the exercise if China participates. Failing that, the invitation should be withdrawn. RIMPAC is for allies and friends, not nations planning to eventually wage war on the United States. Russia sent ships in 2012, but while its senior officers may occasionally utter unfriendly words, they are not actively planning to fight the United States. Analyst Robert Sutter was surely correct when he wrote in 2005 that “China is the only large power in the world preparing to shoot Americans.”
That assessment, unfortunately, remains true today.
I would have thought that anything that ratcheted down the bellicose talk and ratcheted up co-operation between nations was a good thing. Moreover, there is an asymmetry not noted in the article, namely that while US navy ships patrol off the coast of China there are (I assume) not many, perhaps none, from China patrolling off the coast of California.
We need to be extremely careful in dealing with the PLAN…..the People’s Republic Army Navy, which is in the process of transforming itself from a littoral force to a blue water fleet, whose ultimate mission is one of power projection over the entire Pacific region…..complete with nuclear ballistic missile submarines, guided missile cruisers, and carriers…..one of which is now undergoing sea trial, with the advanced aircraft to go with them. This is no trifling matter, and we can’t afford to ignore the possible consequences.
In connection with this, consider the proven activities of the PRC’s spies, or computer hackers, who have stolen our defense secrets and who thus have initiated an undeclared cyberwar against us. The People’s Republic of China cannot be trusted, and for that reason alone, their invitation to participate in RIMPAC 2014 should immediately withdrawn, and proper security measures should be undertaken to see that they don’t interfere in any way.
Cennydd13, you are exactly right.
And I believe that the Obama administration should be made to realize the sheer stupidity of having invited them in the first place, but then I guess maybe the old adage which says “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” is still true, according to Mr Obama. However, when we’re referring to cyberwar, that probably doesn’t apply.