PLA Plays No Small Role in RIMPAC

Twenty-three countries participated yesterday in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2014, which for the first time included China, who sent four warships. RIMPAC is a result of the Cold War, dominated by the United States, originally targeting its imaginary enemy, the Soviet Union, and its results have been unclear.

This was the People’s Liberation Army’s first time in RIMPAC; its lineup was second only to the U.S. military, a big highlight of the exercise. China’s complex relationship with the U.S. has multiple aspects that are difficult to summarize, but some people view military relations as its real bottom line. Regarding whether the countries can establish strategic trust, there is much pessimism. Still, as long as a war can be avoided, the Asia Pacific region and even the world can relax.

The China-U.S. military dialogue in the year after Xi Jinping’s visit to America was the most intense in the last 20 or more years. There were defense ministers, cabinet ministers and commanding officers from both countries. The number of joint military exercises between the two countries held in a single year is likely the largest in history. This never-before-seen “warmth” coexists with the countries’ several heated disputes, and together they mold the appearance of new relations between major powers.

Many people believe that China and the U.S. view each other as imaginary enemies. What their militaries do and what their diplomats say differ greatly. However, it is hard to say whether the countries’ trade interests or interests of military representation are larger. Both countries find it difficult to endure treating the other like an enemy by showing vague concern about interests. Tipping the balance again and again, the countries very carefully protect and expand the positive aspects of their relationship, which is more in line with each other’s interests.

Both countries have activists who believe that their militaries only participated in this joint exercise to save face and that the exercise did not help shape the nature of their relationship. This is not necessarily true. Relations among major powers are always delicate and sensitive, and friendly gestures are very important for creating atmosphere. If China and the U.S. maintain close military contact of a friendly nature, it will influence everyone’s views on some of the countries’ social conflicts, as well as strengthen everyone’s impressions of their peace.

There are more and more points of friction between the U.S. and China. The countries will persevere in their explanations of everyone’s core interests and not give up easily. In some points where the countries’ interests overlap, cooperation will be challenging and risky. Their militaries speak hatefully of each other, so through more joint exercises, more mutual visits and even basketball, the two countries are likely to fully understand and build new major-power relations to earn some space and time.

There are some key differences between China and the U.S. to be gradually clarified. For example, the U.S. has always suspected that China’s long-term goal is to drive U.S. power out of Asia, to break all order in the Asia Pacific and establish “China’s order.” The United States also believes that China’s sovereignty in the East and South China Seas is evidence of our “ambition.” Chinese people do not quite understand American thinking, but what we know best is self-control and moderation of our own strategic starting point. To us, the United States is full of this hegemonic thinking.

Chinese people are most worried about the United States stunting China’s rise, and most of all, do not accept Washington’s long-term subversive plot. The U.S. has repeatedly denied its intention to impede China, but to us, it completely reveals its malicious behavior toward Chinese strategy. They say it was just a manifestation of American values or “diversity.”

China-U.S. relations, both massively cooperative and highly precautionary, are unique in human history. Their mutual understanding is an unprecedented challenge; neither side can easily draw it to a close.

China will be weaker than the United States for a long time in the future. We should have courage to defend our own interests and carefully explore our friction with the U.S. that we repeatedly dispute. We must also stand taller and taller to form strategic tolerance of our complex dispute. As China-U.S. relations progress, the countries are likely to generate more social understanding and peace and adjust to some things that were unimaginable in the past. If that can happen, the future of new major-power relations will be spectacular.