Submitted by: Patrick Johansing
The US Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard recently performed a search and rescue exercise with Hong Kong’s search and rescue team. Hong Kong’s government invited the American forces for the exercise. In The Post-American World, Zakaria noted China’s diplomatic efforts to build friendships. Their invitation of American forces shows that they are trying to foster trust between the nations; it is a powerful gesture.
One Coast Guard man was quoted as saying “We wear different uniforms but we’re ultimately the same.” This stuck out to me because he could be referring to the Chinese men or to the other American forces. I view this as a hopeful indication that many Americans are beginning to view China as a friend rather than a rival. I believe this is especially meaningful because it came from an American in uniform.
Here is the article if anyone wants to interpret it differently.
Important topic.
As a side bar, and notwithstanding the example in this article, China and the US are playing two very different geopolitic and soft and hard power games in the Pacific.
To wit, the US is focusing more on military presence and a re-build up in areas like Hawaii, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, etc. This is part of the hard power game and signaling.
China, on the other hand, is playing a different game. To wit, not making the Soviet mistake of trying to go toe-to-toe with the US and militarily spend themselves into oblivion. Instead, China is focusing on building up regional multilateral alliances with other Asian countries (e.g., ASEAN) with more of a focus on soft power.
So again, China is playing the long game; we are playing the shorter term game.
If you follow China long enough, you will see that the Chinese perception of time is very different than in the West … For example, the CCP actually comes out with a plan/strategy to run the country every 5 years. We/the US flit from one hot topic of the day and political candidate to the next. Today, it’s Obama and the GM bailout; tomorrow … who knows what it will be!
I agree that this is a very important topic, especially coming from a military family. Yes, it is important for the U.S. to build and maintain these relationships in the East, but I strongly believe China doesn’t plan on playing second fiddle to the United States for very long.
This year 43% of what was spent by the United States government was on our military or on past wars, totaling 711 billion. Our next biggest section was on health research and services, accounting for 20%. China’s military spending was the second highest in the world at 122 billion. China has also pledged double digit growth for the next 10 years. What is scary is that it is widely believed that China spends a lot more than advertised up to three times the stated number.Military spending is 17% of the Chinese budget. China is currently focusing its spending and efforts on infrastructure and education.
China is not going head to head with the U.S. with its military spending.”China is playing the long game” and will continue to do so for the near future. The U.S. – Chinese relationship is the most important relationship in the world and both countries realize this. However, I believe it is only a matter of time before China establishes its dominance and controls the East.
I cant help but see this as strictly a public relations move. The article describes a search and rescue exercise, not coordination between two future allies. The article doesn’t say explicitly, but I can almost guarantee that all Chinese citizens were not allowed near US military technology. Arms Regulations are very strict regarding US military knowledge and foreign bodies. I have three brothers in the military (2 Marines, 1 Navy) and they assured me the briefing before the exercise would involve numerous warnings about appropriate behavior towards foreign military personal. The US is nowhere near relaxing its hard-power military views.
One of my brothers was stationed in Korea for over a year and summed up is time in East Asia very simply, “Marines are not there to help Asia in any way, we are there to serve the United States as is necessary. We assume they [non-US citizens] are enemies until THEY prove to us otherwise.” I wish my interpretation of the article wasn’t so cynical, but I just have my doubts. It really is a shame too. I read Zakaria and Dr. Carr’s comments and China’s geopolitics seem like the more effective approach; China is building friends in unison to building power. Military might built on mutual respect (China’s long game) will someday trump overt displays of dominance (US muscle flexing), the only question, in my opinion, is how soon.
The article points out that synergy can exist when countries align and work together towards a single goal. Resources can be accumulated by working together. These Search and Rescue Missions are not about fighting, but about saving people, so the exercises provide safe environments to begin bringing different countries together; and hopefully, they can see and treat each other as equals. Overall, we need to realize that we have similarities (every country) and our differences can help each other.
In the end, we as citizens of this world need to help each other. One person’s strength is another person’s weakness. The United States has a very strong military representation in this world. They train the best and have the best results. Now, to do training exercises in China to teach them the foundations of United States military training will, hopefully, help them, in the end. The ties between the United States and China have obviously grown over the last decade and will continue to grow, hopefully.
As Dr. Carr said, who knows what is going to happen in the United States over the next couple of months especially with the inauguration of the new President on January 20. I hope that other countries will see this as kindness rather than military prowess (bragging rights).
While I think that a lot of this does have to do with “flexing muscles” and showing military strength, I think and hope that it goes beyond that.
Don’t forget that the military has other missions that just dropping ordinance and keeping the peace. The military has the obligation and duty of “soft politics” as well. With half of the worlds 22 nuclear powered carriers groups, the United States has the responsibility to be able to respond to any call. This includes natural disasters and major catastrophes.
Remember the Tsunami a few years back? Whose carriers were there first to act as a staging area and provide the much needed fresh water production? The U.S.. This is one example of “soft politics” that the U.S> military exercises routinely, but is often overlooked or forgotten by many.
If there were to be a disaster such as this in China, I guarantee we would have a carrier group there in no time.
This is where I really disagreed with Zakaia. He mentioned that the U.S. doesn’t train with other militaries anymore. This article is just one of many examples of the U.S. doing just that. Zakaria argues that we have ruined our reputation on a global scale an maybe we have with the war in Iraq, but it has never been because we are not out to help the rest of the world in times of need.
With great power comes great responsibility, and the U.S. is always there in times of need, ready to step up and do its duty to the world.
As Zakaria stated in The Post-American World, the biggest strength of the United States is its ability to be accepting of other cultures. The more that we try to connect with other countries and interact with them, the better our reputation will be. What the US sometimes has trouble understanding, is how important it is to nurture these relationships. We spend so much time trying to enforce our military power, that we neglect the simple things. I feel it is very important for the United States to be involved in simple but very important tasks such as search and rescue to demonstrate the great good that can come from two countries uniting.