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Foreword

Northeast Asia Engagement ::

People's Republic of China and U.S. Forces Enhancing Maritime Safety Throughout the Asia-Pacific Region

Proliferation Security Initiative Activities Attract International Interest

Cooperative Understanding ::

Cambodia-U.S. Navies Conduct Historic Exchange

Regional Response Forces ::

Indian, Canadian and U.S. Forces Partner for a Safer Asia-Pacific Region

RIMPAC 2006:
Fostering Regional Peace and Security

Philippine-U.S. Forces Building Interoperability and Goodwill

Happenings  ::

Happenings

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND U.S. FORCES
ENHANCING MARITIME SAFETY
Compiled by Asia-Pacific Defense FORUM Staff

Compiled by Asia-Pacific Defense FORUM Staff from press releases by SSgt. Marc Ayalin, USMC, assigned to 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs; PO3 Adam R. Cole, USN, assigned to Task Force 76; and PO3 Ashley Hickman, USN, assigned to Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific.

"By working together, we can add to the security,
stability and prosperity of the region."

Admiral Gary Roughead
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet

"This exercise is really beneficial ... [to] the relationships of our two countries. I hope we can expand these activities so we can build more mutual trust."

Vice Admiral Gu Wengen
Commander, South Sea Fleet
People’s Liberation Army (Navy)

People’s Republic of China (PRC) and U.S. forces worked together in a series of search-and-rescue exercises (SAREXs) in late 2006 to increase the safety of sailors and airmen operating near each other. SAR exercises are designed to rehearse the procedures to find and save those who are lost at sea. The U.S. and the PRC have established a Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) that has become the primary forum for the armed forces of the two countries to advance their common objectives of improved air and maritime safety.

The U.S. and the PRC share an interest in safety of their military personnel and acknowledge the common challenges all sailors and airmen face. Saving people in distress is a universally shared value.

The 2006 exercise went beyond the basics. This provided U.S. and PRC forces with a complex challenge. To increase the difficulty as well as the realism, both sides agreed to use language independent of communications protocols, elements of free play, and fixed-wing maritime patrol craft.

The exercises followed PRC naval ship visits to U.S. ports, military personnel exchanges, and a symposium of Western Pacific naval leaders in Honolulu, Hawaii. These activities are efforts by both countries to increase military-to-military contacts that lead to a safer, more prosperous region by offering ways to increase transparency and build mutual trust, confidence and understanding.

The SAREX in September 2006 consisted of two phases. In the first phase, the U.S. Navy’s guided missile destroyer Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) conducted communications and passing exercises off the Hawaiian coast with two People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA(N)) ships: guided missle destroyer Qingdao (DDG 113) and oiler Hongzehu (AOR 881). The two PLA(N) ships then sailed to San Diego, California, for a SAREX with the U.S. Navy’s Third Fleet. The second phase occurred off the coast of China during the November 2006 visit to China by the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Gary Roughead. This second phase involved U.S. Navy and other PLA(N) ships.

SAREX – First Phase

Pearl Harbor SAREX
In the first SAREX phase, the USS Chung-Hoon conducted a communications exercise (COMMEX) with PLA(N) ships, Qingdao and Hongzehu. COMMEX activities build proficiency in the use of internationally accepted communications protocols that are key to how sailors communicate with one another on the high seas.

Building upon the COMMEX, Chung-Hoon also conducted a passing exercise (PASSEX) with PLA(N) ships. The PASSEX is a routine exercise that focuses on basic safety of navigation at sea. U.S. Navy ships regularly participate in passing exercises with foreign navies around the world.

San Diego SAREX
U.S. Navy sailors from the guided missle destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) and Torpedo Weapon Recovery Vessel Swamp Fox (TRW821) conducted a SAREX with the PLA(N) crew of Qingdao (DDG 113) off the coast of San Diego in Southern California in September 2006.

During this SAREX, damage controlmen and corpsmen from both Shoup and Qingdao (DDG 113) combined forces in simulated flooding and medical emergency drills on Swamp Fox to get a better understanding of how each navy operates. “We demonstrated how we would save the ship from fire and flooding,” said U.S. Navy SCPO Cindy Cruzan. “The Chinese sailors did a very good job and were very professional. It was difficult with the language barrier, but through demonstration and a lot of acting out, we were able to accomplish what we intended, which was to demonstrate our abilities to save the ship.”

“This is the first in a series of bilateral exercises that the U.S. is conducting with the Chinese,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Gilday, Commander, Destroyer Squadron Seven. “Military-to-military contact is an important part of that relationship.”

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