Major General Stephen R Lyons (left) of the US Army, Pacific and Major Tang Fen of China’s People’s Liberation Army shake hands at the end of a two-day military exercise in Chengdu yesterday.
CHENGDU: The Chinese and US militaries held joint disaster response exercises yesterday, as Beijing increases its global reach and the Obama administration continues its “pivot” to the Pacific.
The joint drill, which saw officers from both nations express hopes for closer ties, came amid rising concerns in Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam over China’s territorial claims in disputed seas.
During the mock drills at a Chinese military base on the outskirts of Chengdu the two sides worked together on computer-generated disaster scenarios -- in fictionalised countries.
“China and the US are separated by the Pacific Ocean. Our two militaries joining hands... answers to the aspirations of the two sides,” Tang Fen, of the People’s Liberation Army, told reporters after the two-day exercise finished.
“This plays a very important role in relations between our two nations and two militaries.”
US Major General Stephen Lyons said: “If there is a country out there, and inevitably there will be, that will have a natural disaster, and they call for international help, if US forces and Chinese forces respond, then indeed we’ll find ourselves working together in the field.”
Earlier this week visiting US navy secretary Ray Mabus welcomed China to participate in future US-led joint naval exercises, and reiterated an invitation made by Defence Secretary Leon Panetta when he visited in September.
“The Chinese side thanks the US side for the invite, and will give it positive consideration,” Geng Yansheng, spokesman for the Chinese defence ministry, said in remarks posted on its website yesterday.
AFP
