PLAN invited to participate in RIMPAC for first the time (2014)

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
The People's Republic of China has been invited to have the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) participate in RIMPA for the 1st time in 2014, and apparently plans to attend. (See the
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RIMPAC 2014

(See the US Navy Times Article:
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120727-N-VD564-015_-_Maritime_Forces_RIMPAC_2012.jpg

RIMPAC VESSELS 2012

RIMPAC is a multi-national naval exercise held every two years by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), that takes place in and around the Hawaiian Islands involving nations with maritime interests in the Pacific Rim. RIMPAC is a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. It has been held regularly since 1971.

RIMPAC 2014 will be the 24th event and is anticpated to be the largest RIMPAC exercises in history. Larger than RIMPAC 2012, which to that date has been the largest.

In 2014, for the first time in history, the People's Republic of China has been invited to participate in the exercises, though because of sensitive defense related issues and associated legal restrictions, the PRC role will be limited to less sensitive exercises, like disaster relief.

US law prohibits the U.S. military from any military exercises with the PRC if it could possibly, “create a national security risk due to an inappropriate exposure” to technology, sensores, armaments, control, etc., including joint combat operations.

However, there is an exemption for operations or exercises related to search-and-rescue and humanitarian relief. The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) participated with the US Navy in 2012 in a counterpiracy drill.

Lieutenant Colonel Catherine Wilkinson, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said China’s participation in RIMPAC would adhere to US law and said that precautions had been taken by the Navy in drills to avoid revealing sensitive information.

“The US Navy has operational security safeguards to protect US technology and tactics, techniques and procedures from disclosure,” Wilkinson said.

Nations expected to participate in the exercises in 2014 include:

United States
United Kingdom
Japan
Republic of Korea
Australia
Canada
Chile
Colombia
France
India
Indonesia
Malaysia
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
People's Republic of China
Peru
Republic of the Philippines (1st time was in 2012)
Russia (1st time was in 2012)
Singapore
Thailand
Tonga

Generally, the largest participant is the United States who normally sends a carrier strike group to the exercises consisting of one nulcear powere aircraft carrier, an AEGIS cruiser, two AEGIS destroyers, one or more guiided missile frigates, one or more nuclear attack submarines, and replenishment vessels. The US Navy may also elect to send vessels constituting part of its Amphibious Ready groups as well. Other nations contribute surface combatant and submarine vessels as they are able. In 2012 forty-two surface vessels, six sumbmarines and over two hundred aircraft were involved with over 25,000 personnel from 22 different countries. In 2012, the US Navy debuted its noew P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft at the exercises.

bilde
 

kroko

Senior Member
In 2014, for the first time in history, the People's Republic of China has been invited to participate in the exercises, though because of sensitive defense related issues and associated legal restrictions, the PRC role will be limited to less sensitive exercises, like disaster relief.

US law prohibits the U.S. military from any military exercises with the PRC if it could possibly, “create a national security risk due to an inappropriate exposure” to technology, sensores, armaments, control, etc., including joint combat operations.

However, there is an exemption for operations or exercises related to search-and-rescue and humanitarian relief. The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) participated with the US Navy in 2012 in a counterpiracy drill.

Lieutenant Colonel Catherine Wilkinson, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said China’s participation in RIMPAC would adhere to US law and said that precautions had been taken by the Navy in drills to avoid revealing sensitive information.

“The US Navy has operational security safeguards to protect US technology and tactics, techniques and procedures from disclosure,” Wilkinson said.

is russia subject to the same limitations as china is in this exercice? other nations also?
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
-mind blown-

I heard about the RIMPAC invitation a while ago, but not that the PLAN would attend... This is quite massive news.

Considering just how comprehensive RIMPAC is as an international exercise, it was certainly an act of... good faith and chivalry for the US to invite the PLAN. The two countries and their militaries of course are competitors in many ways and field systems designed to counter each other's capabilities, but naval power is so intrinsic to other aspects of the globe such as keeping SLOCs safe from piracy, non state actors, not to mention disaster relief.

Although if the PLAN are limited to less significant non-military roles I wonder what ships they could send while giving off a good impression. Maybe an 071 and a frigate, to keep things subtle.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
is russia subject to the same limitations as china is in this exercice? other nations also?
I imagine any other nations that are not either alliance partners, or at least treaty signators with the US have some level of restriction as regards to participating in joint military exercises.

This is understandable, particularly if there is the potential for any military conflict due to disagreements with either the US or its allies...which tere are those possibilities.

However, as was shown with the anti-pitrating exercise, some level of naval participation is available.

As far as I am concerned, any level is a start and can progress to more later as trust and cooperation are acheived.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
-mind blown-

I heard about the RIMPAC invitation a while ago, but not that the PLAN would attend... This is quite massive news.

Yes, I too had kept track of the invitation, but this particular paragraph in the Pacific Journal News was the key one:

Pacific Journal News said:
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports the Honolulu-based U.S. Pacific Fleet sent a formal invitation to the People's Liveration Army Navy in January, following an announcement by then-U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in September that China would be invited to send a single ship to RIMPAC. The newspaper reports a Pentagon spokeswoman said China told U.S. officials last month that it planned the participate in the 2014 RIMPAC.

That's pretty amazing and I hope it leads to a future of less apprehension and mistrust, and more cooperation over time.
 

joshuatree

Captain
Yes, I too had kept track of the invitation, but this particular paragraph in the Pacific Journal News was the key one:

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports the Honolulu-based U.S. Pacific Fleet sent a formal invitation to the People's Liveration Army Navy in January, following an announcement by then-U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in September that China would be invited to send a single ship to RIMPAC. The newspaper reports a Pentagon spokeswoman said China told U.S. officials last month that it planned the participate in the 2014 RIMPAC.


That's pretty amazing and I hope it leads to a future of less apprehension and mistrust, and more cooperation over time.

I wonder if by single ship, does that refer to single warship and whatever auxiliary or literally one ship?
 

shen

Senior Member
071 LPD is probably the most appropriate ship. But considering the tragedy that took place last time, I'm not sure if its a good idea for PLAN to go.
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MwRYum

Major
That's pretty amazing and I hope it leads to a future of less apprehension and mistrust, and more cooperation over time.

RIMPAC exercise has non-combat elements as well, though of course it's still unclear at what scope and level of participation is PRC being invited for.

But in opposite to your optimism, all the China-bashing coming from the States Department and Pentagon several times per year will never lead Sino-US relations to the better future, and as long as that US law still standing, Sino-US cooperation will remain only skin-deep at best. Face it, US the sole ruling superpower will never allow another challenger, if they break the backs of the Japanese in the 90s, they won't cut China any slacks.
 
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