Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen in the interior to visit China Yuan class submarines. U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen and shake hands with Chinese naval officers.

Although China’s maritime ambitions have not yet pose a direct threat to the United States, the situation does not need to make a specific response to the United States, that is serious about the policy for China. Sino-US conflict will occur at sea is also unknown, but both conflict with the idea of ??legal interpretation, the lack of a common concept of operations, reflecting China advocates the aggressive behavior, and lack of transparency in both its ability to increase both the likelihood of false positives .

recognize China as a maritime power is necessary; the world’s oceans in maintaining China’s economic development and the world’s second largest economy is essential. There is no doubt that China’s leaders believe that marine life and the state is necessary to maintain their power. Therefore, the U.S. should accept China as a major maritime power status, there is a huge recognition of its maritime interests. For example, the ban against Somali pirates or perform the scope of the fishery belongs to the Sino-US cooperation, provides an opportunity for the Sino-US cooperation.

However, the recognition is not equivalent to China’s interests to accept China’s demands. In many areas, if the acquiescence of China’s maritime policy, will and contrary to U.S. interests. For example, U.S. interests in the “offshore” more and more divided on the issue. China wants to waters within the first island chain into their own sphere of influence, which these waters as their own territorial waters. Therefore, it is trying to threaten other countries (such as: Vietnam and the Philippines) constraints or to give up their ideas and activities (eg, interference in China’s Air Force and Navy claimed exclusive economic zone of activity).

particular, Beijing’s “United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea” in a unique interpretation, saying the U.S. Navy warships and auxiliary equipment should limit their activities in the exclusive economic zone in China. These strategies do not yield to U.S. interests, the treaty should be considered in any comprehensive discussion of the interpretation of China and China’s use of legal acts of war; it implements through international law can not achieve the interests of public pressure.

In this regard, even recognition of China’s maritime interests, the United States must protect its maritime interests. This protection needs of U.S. defense policy in several areas for action. First, the United States must maintain a strong maritime military forces; the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps is the last in the global maritime interests to protect. Unlike the PLA Navy, U.S. Navy forces away from the local mission. This increases the consumption of warships, but also extended to the patrol area from the local port time-consuming. Therefore, in the Asia Pacific region and the United States must maintain a large-scale Indian Ocean region a strong naval force, which helps to discourage and deter potential adversaries, safeguarding national interests.

in turn means that the reduction in the size of the Navy and Marine Corps, and reduce the operational tempo will perform tasks in these areas have a negative impact on the actual ability, but also on the commitment and credibility with the United States to adverse effects. Not only should the United States Navy and Marine Corps resources to reduce, and even should strengthen their construction; the U.S. Navy can not afford further contraction.

At the same time, the U.S. Navy to enhance the training, in some cases, but also to restore the canceled training. After World War II, some tasks, such as anti-ship anti-submarine warfare combat and the high seas are no longer considered important; some capacity, such as anti-ship cruise missiles launched from the submarine’s ability to lose. Since the late 1980s, the U.S. had not been challenged. With China’s blue water facing the United States once again challenge the ability of these tasks and may again become important. Re-skilled tasks and capabilities, not only the transfer of priority, need to increase resources for training activities and maintenance funding.

also means the rise of the Chinese Navy, the U.S. Navy in R & D must be re-energized. Currently, the United States, no new surface or underwater vessels in the design phase. This is never happen, could lead to naval ships have to deal with the backwardness of the challenges of China; or worse, faced with more advanced capabilities of the PLA Navy. To avoid this situation, the U.S. Navy should be instructed to develop a comprehensive research plan should use unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned underwater vehicles and space systems and other advanced technologies.

the U.S. military to take joint action, it should seriously pay attention to Asia-Pacific Air Force and Army activities. Ongoing modernization of the Chinese navy and air force, including the use of advanced air defense missile systems, such as the PLA has deployed S-400 and HQ-9 air defense systems; so, the U.S. Air Force modernization program can not own behind.

low visibility aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles for electronic warfare capability is especially important; U.S. Air Force F-35 is necessary to put a lot of money, especially considering the F-22 short-sighted decisions. Meanwhile, Congress should consider buying more E/A-18 “Growler” electronic warfare aircraft and advanced UAV systems, to promote within the Chinese air defense activities. Similarly, special operations forces and space forces in the implementation of deterrence can also play an important role; United States should also expand cooperation with allies and other Asian countries, the armed forces for a particular exchange.

all of these factors should not only be used to maintain the United States in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean region and network of allies, but also for the strengthening of the relationship between the United States in these areas. In these areas, the United States is more popular than China. Unlike China, the United States and countries in the region no significant territorial disputes. On the contrary, the United States to provide global maritime security at sea channel, which allows countries including China, the same benefit. Therefore, Asian countries view the U.S. as “public interest” provision, and also the power necessary to balance China’s rise.

countries in the region through support to ensure their own sovereignty and interests of the United States can adjust their role in the region. For example, last year in Hanoi, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proposed to help mediate the South China Sea disputes; which declared the U.S. diplomatic presence is useful, which with the United States military the same constructive and peaceful existence.

actively in regional cooperation conference in the United States reflects the presence and leadership, but also strengthened the relationship between the United States and the region. Specifically, with East Asian countries and ASEAN free trade agreement, and the Pan-Pacific partnership will strengthen the U.S. and the Pacific economic ties.

contrast, Guam, the U.S. Navy to withdraw from the West Pacific may not be as cost-cutting measures or mitigation of conflict, but as a concession on China’s influence. Changes in U.S. bases in Okinawa structure, should discuss the importance of maintaining regional presence.

to protect maritime interests is not just a military problem, the U.S. Coast Guard and the region’s many law enforcement organizations in the exchange. Therefore, the Coast Guard marine in this region needs and concerns of small countries in particular are familiar with. This is America’s soft power is very necessary, so that can greatly enhance the soft power of U.S. military activities.

ally of the United States should be to provide modern weapons, which may include the sale and transfer of advanced fighters retired U.S. Navy warship; This is particularly useful in the Philippines. Together with the local military forces frequently joint exercises, the sale of these weapons not only countries in the region to strengthen self-defense capability; also in the region after an incident, to ensure that the United States and allies in the region, the structure of the tactical and procedural interoperability and familiar.

Conclusion

growing Chinese economy, its dependence on the oceans are deepened; inevitable, China’s presence in the world’s oceans will also increase China’s naval presence will naturally increase.

though, more military presence does not mean that China will challenge the U.S. Navy’s rule; some of China’s military development (such as anti-access/area denial capabilities) that enhance their combat capability at sea to change the situation is not optimistic.

Therefore, for their own interests, the United States should maintain a consistent policy to strengthen maritime capabilities, remind the Chinese; despite the United States to allow a friendly maritime power exists, but it still is not over the sea opponents. (Sri Lanka years)

Previous 12 3 Next

(Editor: SN015)