User:Resplin.odell/United States – China military relations

United States – China military relations are the interactions and relationship between the United States Armed Forces (led by the United States Department of Defense) and the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China (led by the Central Military Commission and represented to foreign governments by the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China). Some limited formal mechanisms currently exist to facilitate communication between the U.S. and Chinese militaries; these include the Defense Consultative Talks (held at the level of Under Secretary of Defense), as well as the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement and the Defense Policy Coordination Talks (each convened at the level of deputy assistant secretary of defense).

U.S.-China mil-to-mil relations have traditionally been one of the most sensitive areas in Sino-American relations and, at times, a subject of considerable controversy. Many foreign policy experts and officials have called for increased military-to-military communication and cooperation in order to prevent potential crises from sparking wider conflicts. However, other U.S. officials and observers have expressed concern that close mil-to-mil ties could lead to the sharing of sensitive intelligence information. Such concerns resulted in the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act containing numerous provisions that established Congressional oversight and imposed restrictions on U.S. military relations with China.

History

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Beginning with restablishment of diplomatic ties with the PRC. Suspended after 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

1995-1996 Taiwan Strait crisis Defense Consultative Talks held for the first time in December 1997. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement signed in 1998. Belgrade embassy bombing

Cox Report FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act Hainan Island incident

Suspensions because of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Recent developments. Gates visit in January 2010.

Challenges

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Strategic mistrust
Taiwan arms sales
Congressional Oversight & the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act
Fears of espionage
Lack of transparency in the PLA
Asymmetry (China doesn't want transparency because they're weak)

Mechanisms

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Military Maritime Consultative Agreement
Defense Consultative Talks
Defense Policy Coordination Talks
Crisis management hotline
(Taiwan) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/washington/19pacific.html
http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/0802qus_china.pdf
Track II dialogues (Crisis Management)
Regional multilateral security dialogues, such as the Shangri-La Dialogue and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus)
U.S. China Nuclear Dialogue http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/0802qus_china.pdf; http://www.dod.gov/dodgc/olc/docs/testShinn080625.pdf

Proposals

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Gates' proposal for Strategic Dialogue with four areas: nuclear, cyber, space, and ballistic missiles


Potential Sources:

References

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  • English-language website of the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China [1]
  • Website of United States Pacific Command (PACOM) [2]
  • Full text of U.S.-PRC Agreement on Establishing a Consultation Mechanism to Strengthen Military Maritime Safety [3]

See also

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Category:People's Liberation Army Category:United States Department of Defense Category:China - United States Relations Category:Republic of China - United States Relations