United States–China security cooperation explained

United States–China security cooperation refers to various projects, combined operations, communications, official dialogues, joint exchanges, and joint exercises, between agencies, groups, and individuals within the government of United States and the People's Republic of China, in a number of areas pertaining to global security, defense policy, and various forms of military and security cooperation.

As the biggest and second-biggest economies in the world, respectively, they possess a unique role in global society. The United States and China have promoted a number of joint efforts in various policy areas, but these security cooperations have largely ended since the beginning of U.S.-China strategic competition.[1]

Overview

The establishment of the U.S.–China Strategic and Economic Dialogue was announced on April 1, 2009, by U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao.[2] The format was such that high-level representatives of both countries and their delegations will meet annually at capitals alternating between the two countries.[3] [4]

The upgraded mechanism replaced the former Senior Dialogue and Strategic Economic Dialogue, which started under the George W. Bush administration in 2006.[5]

In 2014, China and the US were among 21 countries who signed an agreement to implement the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea. in order to foster improved communications and interactions between warships of different nations who may have encounters on the high seas.[6]

In August 2017, a new agreement was signed by US and Chinese high-ranking officers, to foster a useful strategic communication process between the two militaries.[7]

Since the overall deterioration of United States–China relations in 2018, the communication between the US military and its Chinese counterparts has basically stagnated.[8] Although the Biden administration requested the establishment of a hotline, it was rejected by the Chinese side.[9]

Specific joint efforts and policy areas

Army

The US Army and People's Liberation Army regularly conduct joint army exercises to practice techniques for disaster rescue efforts, officially referred to as Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR). Starting in 2005, the two countries have conducted the annual Disaster Management Exchange, which consists of a substantive exchange of knowledge and techniques. This exercise has expanded and has been held in a number of different locations throughout the US and China.[10]

In 2010, a Chinese Army delegation visited Fort Leonard Wood in the US, in order to learn about disaster rescue techniques. In 2011, a US Army delegation visited China for a 12-day visit, and toured numerous Chinese facilities. They met with officers of the Engineer Regiment, Chinese International Search and Rescue (CISAR), in western Beijing. They viewed numerous vehicles and facilities to be used for disaster rescue.[11] In 2012, the exchange took place in several cities in China.[12]

In 2013, a field exercise was added to the usual exchange of information, based on feedback stemming from the previous DME session in 2012. That year's conference included representatives from United States Army Pacific, Hawaii Army National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers along with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.[11] In 2015, delegations from both countries met at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State, and exchanged information on various techniques for disaster preparation.[13] [14] This was the first time that Chinese troops have ever entered an American base in the continental USA.[15]

In 2016, the joint exercises were held in China, involving around 200 soldiers from both countries.[16] [17] In 2017, the joint exercises were held in Portland, Oregon.[18] [19] In 2018 the US-China Disaster Management Exchange was held in Nanjing, China.[20] [21] [22] In 2019, the exercises were held at Kilauea Military Camp and Kilauea Military Reservation, in Hawaii.[23] The official U.S. Army Facebook page for this exercise indicated that Gen. Paul LaCamera, Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific, had personally met with Maj. Gen. Xu Qiling, Commanding General Eastern Theater Command Army, Peoples Liberation Army.[24]

At the 2019 exercise, one American officer, U.S. Army Pacific Deputy Commanding General-North, Maj. Gen. Daniel McDaniel, provided a cogent summary of why these exercises are needed:

"No one nation can do it all by itself. The best results, we know by experience, are achieved together..... It is not a question of if the U.S and China will be called upon for a disaster response, but when such a request will come. This exchange brings us together and it brings us together to learn how to work together, and with other nations to support such a request."[23]

Navy

In 2012, China was invited to observe the US Navy's annual RIMPAC exercise. In 2014, the People's Liberation Army Navy began to actively participate in this exercise. This continued in 2016.[25] [26] At that exercise, China participated with 5 warships and 1,200 personnel.[27] In 2013, US and Chinese warships conducted joint anti-piracy drills near the Horn of Africa. This included aircraft-landing exercises on each other's ships. In December 2014, the Chinese and US Navies held an anti-piracy exercise in the Gulf of Aden. This included utilization of the procedures dictated by the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, an important international code of procedures for ship encounters.[28] [29] [30]

Coast Guard

Since 1993, the US Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard have assigned detachments of officers to work aboard each other's vessels to assist in cracking down on illegal fisheries.[31] [32] [33] [34] In 2016, the Coast Guard Commandant stated this program was going well, with extensive contacts between the two services.[35]

Enlisted personnel of the China Coast Guard have trained alongside US Coast Guard personnel in search and rescue techniques.[36]

Nuclear security

In July 2017, scientists from both countries worked together to modify a nuclear reactor in Ghana, in order to reconfigure it to use lower-grade uranium that is not suitable for use in building nuclear weapons. This is part of an ongoing effort by US and China to take similar actions for nuclear facilities around the world.[37] Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, U.S. and Chinese scientists are reconfiguring a heavy water reactor in Iran, so that it cannot be used as a significant source of plutonium.[37]

The nucleus of this team effort is the U.S.-China Arms Control Technical Exchange Program (ACE), which was created in 1994 with nuclear scientists from major weapon labs such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, and with China's Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP) in southwest China.[37]

Cyber-security

In October 2017, the US and China held the first meeting of an official joint effort to be known as Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Dialogue. This effort is intended to allow both countries to work together to address problems with hacking and to improve conditions for global computer security and cyber-security in general.[38] [39]

UN peacekeeping and global security

In September 2015, President Barack Obama hosted the U.S.-China Climate Leaders Summit in Los Angeles, California.[40] [41] During this summit meeting, China agreed to provide 8,000 soldiers for peacekeeping operations, $100 million in funding, and also agreed to train 2,000 foreign soldiers for the African Union stability forces.[42]

See also

General items
Foreign policy issues and concerns
History

References

  1. Web site: Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress . Congressional Research Service . 28 February 2024.
  2. https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg242.aspx Joint Press Release on the First Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue
  3. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the_press_office/Statement-On-Bilateral-Meeting-With-President-Hu-Of-China/ Statement on Bilateral Meeting With President Hu of China
  4. http://www.ustreas.gov/initiatives/us-china/ U.S.–China Strategic Economic Dialogue
  5. https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/hp105.aspx The Joint Statement between the United States of America and The People's Republic of China on the Inauguration of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue
  6. https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2015/05/20/a_tactical_look_at_asia-pacific_naval_partnerships_107962.html A Tactical Look at Asia-Pacific Naval Partnerships
  7. https://news.usni.org/2017/08/16/new-u-s-chinese-military-communications-agreement-follows-years-naval-engagement#more-27529 New U.S., Chinese MIlitary Communications Agreement Follows Years of Naval Engagement
  8. Erickson . Andrew S. . 2019 . U.S.-China Military-to-Military Relations: Policy Considerations in a Changing Environment . Asia Policy . 14 . 3 . 123–144 . 1559-0968.
  9. Web site: Newsham . Grant . 2023-06-26 . The Chinese military won’t talk to us. So what? . 2023-07-23 . Center for Security Policy . en-US.
  10. https://www.army.mil/article/178714/us_china_participate_in_disaster_management_exchange U.S., China participate in Disaster Management Exchange
  11. http://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article/575366/us-china-conduct-disaster-management-exchange/ U.S., China conduct disaster management exchange
  12. https://www.army.mil/article/92736/us_and_china_focus_on_disaster_management US and China focus on disaster management
  13. http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/military/article45700044.html U.S. and Chinese troops connect in first-ever exchange at JBLM
  14. https://cbrnecentral.com/usa-chinese-soldiers-joint-disaster-management-exchange/3850/ In Pictures: US, China Disaster Management Exchange
  15. http://warisboring.com/for-the-first-time-chinese-troops-entered-an-american-base-on-the-west-coast/ For the First Time, Chinese Troops Entered an American Base on the West Coast
  16. http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/21/asia/china-us-military-drill/index.html US and China conduct rare military drill
  17. https://www.army.mil/article/179630/us_china_dme_participants_hold_expert_academic_exchange U.S.-China DME participants hold Expert Academic Exchange
  18. https://www.army.mil/article/196967/us_china_participate_in_disaster_management_exchange_in_portland U.S., China participate in Disaster Management Exchange in Portland
  19. https://www.army.mil/article/197275/us_china_disaster_management_exchange_closes_out_in_oregon US, China Disaster Management Exchange closes out in Oregon
  20. https://www.army.mil/article/213792/2018_disaster_management_exchange_nanjing_china_officially_begins 2018 Disaster Management Exchange, Nanjing, China, Officially begins!
  21. https://www.army.mil/article/213729/us_army_participates_in_14th_annual_disaster_management_exchange_in_nanjing_china U.S. Army participates in 14th annual Disaster Management Exchange in Nanjing, China
  22. https://thediplomat.com/2018/11/us-army-pla-conclude-disaster-management-exchange-despite-frictions/ US Army, PLA Conclude Disaster Management Exchange Despite Frictions
  23. https://www.army.mil/article/230491/us_china_hold_15th_annual_disaster_management_exchange US-China hold 15th Annual Disaster Management Exchange
  24. https://www.facebook.com/PacificResilience/posts/1201389553383021 Facebook post at page for "Pacific Resilience."
  25. https://www.npr.org/2016/08/31/491794645/rising-tensions-yes-but-the-u-s-and-chinese-navies-are-training-together Rising Tensions? Yes, But The U.S. And Chinese Navies Are Training Together
  26. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/chinese-warships-join-forces-massive-8255107 US and Chinese warships join forces in massive joint naval exercise in the Pacific
  27. https://thediplomat.com/2016/06/with-5-ships-and-1200-personnel-china-expands-rimpac-2016-naval-delegation/ With 5 Ships and 1,200 Personnel, China Expands RIMPAC 2016 Naval Delegation
  28. News: China, US navies implement code of conduct . 13 December 2014 . www.chinadaily.com.cn . China Daily . 15 May 2015.
  29. https://www.stripes.com/news/navy/us-navy-seeks-more-cooperation-with-china-in-counter-piracy-exercise-1.237354#.Wdrg2I9Sziw US Navy seeks more cooperation with China in counter-piracy exercise
  30. http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=84858 US, China Conduct Anti-Piracy Exercise
  31. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/12/china_and_the_us_coast_guard.html U.S. Coast Guard Has Chinese aboard
  32. http://www.scmp.com/article/604634/patrol-boat-diplomacy Patrol boat diplomacy
  33. http://alaska.coastguard.dodlive.mil/2017/03/coast-guard-hosts-seven-person-chinese-working-group-in-support-of-operation-north-pacific-guard/ Coast Guard hosts seven-person Chinese working group in support of Operation North Pacific Guard
  34. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/26/asia-pacific/chinese-u-s-coast-guards-perform-joint-operations-rare-bright-spot-sino-american-relations/#.WdxIuI9Sziw Chinese, U.S. coast guards perform joint operations in rare bright spot for Sino-American relations
  35. https://www.voanews.com/a/coast-guard-chief-seeks-expanded-asia-pacific-role/3617856.html US Coast Guard Chief Seeks Expanded Asia-Pacific Role
  36. http://www.civilbeat.org/2012/09/17002-the-rising-east-change-comes-to-us-coast-guard-in-the-pacific/ The Rising East: Change Comes to U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific
  37. https://www.science.org/content/article/us-china-mission-rushes-bomb-grade-nuclear-fuel-out-africa U.S.-China mission rushes bomb-grade nuclear fuel out of Africa
  38. https://web.archive.org/web/20171003125306/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-10/03/c_136656699.htm China, US to hold first law enforcement, cybersecurity dialogue
  39. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-china-talks-focus-on-immigration-fugitives/4057291.html High-level US-China Talks Focus on Immigration, Fugitives
  40. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/15/fact-sheet-us-%E2%80%93-china-climate-leaders-summit Fact Sheet: U.S. – China Climate Leaders Summit
  41. http://fortune.com/2015/09/28/china-us-obama-xi-jinping-meeting/ US-China summit: It's time for some cautious optimism
  42. https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/10/02/china-eyes-ending-western-grip-on-top-u-n-jobs-with-greater-control-over-blue-helmets/ China Eyes Ending Western Grip on Top U.N. Jobs With Greater Control Over Blue Helmets

Further reading

Policy studies

United States

China

News Articles

General articles and analysis

Specific meetings and joint efforts

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "United States–China security cooperation".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.