By Franz-Stefan Gady
US Army Pacific will push for closer ties with the Chinese military.
Defense News reports that Gen. Vincent Brooks, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), will try to step up the “land force dialogue” between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and United States Army in the Pacific.
At the beginning of the year, the U.S. media reported that the Pentagon was suspending additional bilateral military exchanges “until Washington and Beijing can agree on rules for encounters between warplanes.” In the summer of 2014, a Chinese military plane came perilously close to a U.S. P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, almost causing a mid-air collision. That report was quickly denied by both Washington and Beijing, however. My colleague, Ankit Panda, offered a good analysis of the announcement here.
Speaking two days ago, at an event organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Gen. Brooks noted that he received no orders to stop military-to-military exchanges with the Chinese PLA.
“I am not going to comment on whether that is a true statement or a policy, but I can tell you I was not given any instructions to reduce engagements. We are looking at every opportunity within our authority to do that. Some subject areas are not permitted yet as a matter of policy,” the general said.
Read the full story at The Diplomat