China Military to Tour U.S. Bases

Oct 29, 10:17 PM EST

China Military to Tour U.S. Bases

By AUDREY McAVOY
Associated Press Writer

HONOLULU (AP) -- A Chinese military delegation will begin a five-day tour of U.S. military installations in Hawaii and California on Monday and meet with senior U.S. officers in the latest step to repair military ties between the two countries.

About 30 midlevel military commanders in the People's Liberation Army, including division and brigade commanders, will visit U.S. Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii, tour a guided missile destroyer in San Diego and observe Marine training at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

It is the third such visit by Chinese military officers since the countries agreed last October to increase military exchanges.

U.S. military officials say the visits foster understanding between the militaries, which have shared a frosty relationship since a U.S. spy plane and Chinese fighter jet collided off China's coast in April 2001.

"It's a great opportunity for us to talk directly with PLA officers, with senior, mid-grade PLA commanders," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Roger Cavazos, senior China country director at the U.S. Pacific Command.

"It's that direct interaction, that direct contact that really helps us allay mutual suspicions and move forward with this process of engaging and dealing more with the PLA," he said.

The delegation is expected to tour the USS Preble in San Diego and observer a demonstration of an amphibious assault vehicle and weapons simulation training at Camp Pendleton.

U.S. officials, not wanting to show their counterparts too many U.S. military capabilities, denied Chinese requests to tour an active U.S. aircraft carrier and see the Army's newest troop transporter, the Stryker armored vehicle.

China showed a U.S. military delegation that visited the country in March antiquated planes and ships dating to the late 1960s and early 1970s.

"I won't say they're open; I won't say they're anywhere near being open," Cavazos said. "I will say the trend is positive."

U.S. critics of the engagement strategy say the United States is baring itself to Chinese examination without obtaining similar access to Chinese facilities and equipment in return.

But Adm. William J. Fallon, the Pacific Command commander, said U.S. officers need the interaction to better understand one of the world's most rapidly growing economic and military powers, and said he expects China to reciprocate.

The delegation is expected to visit the decommissioned battleship Missouri and the sunken battleship USS Arizona during its tour.

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