United States–China security cooperation

United States–China security cooperation refers to various projects, combined operations, communications, official dialogues, joint exchanges, and joint exercises, between agencies, groups, and individuals within the government of United States and the People's Republic of China, in a number of areas pertaining to global security, defense policy, and various forms of military and security cooperation.

As the biggest and second-biggest economies in the world, respectively, they possess a unique role in global society. The United States and China have promoted a number of joint efforts in various policy areas, but these security cooperations have largely ended since the beginning of U.S.-China strategic competition.^[1]

Overview

The establishment of the U.S.–China Strategic and Economic Dialogue was announced on April 1, 2009, by U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao.^[2] The format was such that high-level representatives of both countries and their delegations will meet annually at capitals alternating between the two countries.^[3]^[4]

The upgraded mechanism replaced the former Senior Dialogue and Strategic Economic Dialogue, which started under the George W. Bush administration in 2006.^[5]

In 2014, China and the US were among 21 countries who signed an agreement to implement the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea. in order to foster improved communications and interactions between warships of different nations who may have encounters on the high seas.^[6]

In August 2017, a new agreement was signed by US and Chinese high-ranking officers, to foster a useful strategic communication process between the two militaries.^[7]

Since the overall deterioration of United States–China relations in 2018, the communication between the US military and its Chinese counterparts has basically stagnated.^[8] Although the Biden administration requested the establishment of a hotline, it was rejected by the Chinese side.^[9]

Specific joint efforts and policy areas

Army

The US Army and People's Liberation Army regularly conduct joint army exercises to practice techniques for disaster rescue efforts, officially referred to as Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR). Starting in 2005, the two countries have conducted the annual Disaster Management Exchange, which consists of a substantive exchange of knowledge and techniques. This exercise has expanded and has been held in a number of different locations throughout the US and China.^[10]

In 2010, a Chinese Army delegation visited Fort Leonard Wood in the US, in order to learn about disaster rescue techniques. In 2011, a US Army delegation visited China for a 12-day visit, and toured numerous Chinese facilities. They met with officers of the Engineer Regiment, Chinese International Search and Rescue (CISAR), in western Beijing. They viewed numerous vehicles and facilities to be used for disaster rescue.^[11] In 2012, the exchange took place in several cities in China.^[12]

In 2013, a field exercise was added to the usual exchange of information, based on feedback stemming from the previous DME session in 2012. That year's conference included representatives from United States Army Pacific, Hawaii Army National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers along with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.^[11] In 2015, delegations from both countries met at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State, and exchanged information on various techniques for disaster preparation.^[13]^[14] This was the first time that Chinese troops have ever entered an American base in the continental USA.^[15]

In 2016, the joint exercises were held in China, involving around 200 soldiers from both countries.^[16]^[17] In 2017, the joint exercises were held in Portland, Oregon.^[18]^[19] In 2018 the US-China Disaster Management Exchange was held in Nanjing, China.^[20]^[21]^[22] In 2019, the exercises were held at Kilauea Military Camp and Kilauea Military Reservation, in Hawaii.^[23] The official U.S. Army Facebook page for this exercise indicated that Gen. Paul LaCamera, Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific, had personally met with Maj. Gen. Xu Qiling, Commanding General Eastern Theater Command Army, Peoples Liberation Army.^[24]

At the 2019 exercise, one American officer, U.S. Army Pacific Deputy Commanding General-North, Maj. Gen. Daniel McDaniel, provided a cogent summary of why these exercises are needed:

"No one nation can do it all by itself. The best results, we know by experience, are achieved together..... It is not a question of if the U.S and China will be called upon for a disaster response, but when such a request will come. This exchange brings us together and it brings us together to learn how to work together, and with other nations to support such a request."^[23]

Navy

In 2012, China was invited to observe the US Navy's annual RIMPAC exercise. In 2014, the People's Liberation Army Navy began to actively participate in this exercise. This continued in 2016.^[25]^[26] At that exercise, China participated with 5 warships and 1,200 personnel.^[27]

In 2013, US and Chinese warships conducted joint anti-piracy drills near the Horn of Africa. This included aircraft-landing exercises on each other's ships. In December 2014, the Chinese and US Navies held an anti-piracy exercise in the Gulf of Aden. This included utilization of the procedures dictated by the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, an important international code of procedures for ship encounters.^[28]^[29]^[30]

Coast Guard

Since 1993, the US Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard have assigned detachments of officers to work aboard each other's vessels to assist in cracking down on illegal fisheries.^[31]^[32]^[33]^[34] In 2016, the Coast Guard Commandant stated this program was going well, with extensive contacts between the two services.^[35]

Enlisted personnel of the China Coast Guard have trained alongside US Coast Guard personnel in search and rescue techniques.^[36]

Nuclear security

In July 2017, scientists from both countries worked together to modify a nuclear reactor in Ghana, in order to reconfigure it to use lower-grade uranium that is not suitable for use in building nuclear weapons. This is part of an ongoing effort by US and China to take similar actions for nuclear facilities around the world.^[37] Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, U.S. and Chinese scientists are reconfiguring a heavy water reactor in Iran, so that it cannot be used as a significant source of plutonium.^[37]

The nucleus of this team effort is the U.S.-China Arms Control Technical Exchange Program (ACE), which was created in 1994 with nuclear scientists from major weapon labs such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, and with China's Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP) in southwest China.^[37]

Cyber-security

In October 2017, the US and China held the first meeting of an official joint effort to be known as Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Dialogue. This effort is intended to allow both countries to work together to address problems with hacking and to improve conditions for global computer security and cyber-security in general.^[38]^[39]

UN peacekeeping and global security

In September 2015, President Barack Obama hosted the U.S.-China Climate Leaders Summit in Los Angeles, California.^[40]^[41] During this summit meeting, China agreed to provide 8,000 soldiers for peacekeeping operations, $100 million in funding, and also agreed to train 2,000 foreign soldiers for the African Union stability forces.^[42]

References

^ "Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
^ Joint Press Release on the First Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, 7/28/2009.
^ Statement on Bilateral Meeting With President Hu of China Archived 2009-06-04 at the Wayback Machine. White House Press Office. April 1, 2009.
^ U.S.–China Strategic Economic Dialogue Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine. U.S. Department of the Treasury.
^ The Joint Statement between the United States of America and The People's Republic of China on the Inauguration of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, US Treasury Dept website, 9/20/2006.
^ A Tactical Look at Asia-Pacific Naval Partnerships, by Justin Goldman, May 19, 2015.
^ New U.S., Chinese MIlitary Communications Agreement Follows Years of Naval Engagement, By: Ben Werner, August 16, 2017.
^ Erickson, Andrew S. (2019). "U.S.-China Military-to-Military Relations: Policy Considerations in a Changing Environment". Asia Policy. 14 (3): 123–144. ISSN 1559-0968.
^ Newsham, Grant (2023-06-26). "The Chinese military won't talk to us. So what?". Center for Security Policy. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
^ U.S., China participate in Disaster Management Exchange, By Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin (US Army8th Theater Sustainment Command) November 22, 2016.
^ ^a ^b U.S., China conduct disaster management exchange, by U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs | November 22, 2013.
^ US and China focus on disaster management, By Russell Dodson, December 10, 2012.
^ U.S. and Chinese troops connect in first-ever exchange at JBLM, by Adam Ashton, November 20, 2015.
^ In Pictures: US, China Disaster Management Exchange, November 24, 2015 CBRNE Central.
^ For the First Time, Chinese Troops Entered an American Base on the West Coast, by Kevin Knodell, November 24, 2015.
^ US and China conduct rare military drill, By Matt Rivers, CNN, November 21, 2016.
^ U.S.-China DME participants hold Expert Academic Exchange, By Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin, US Army official website, December 13, 2016.
^ U.S., China participate in Disaster Management Exchange in Portland By Maj. Lindsey Elder, November 15, 2017, www.army.mil Official US Army website.
^ US, China Disaster Management Exchange closes out in Oregon By Airman 1st Class Nathan Barbour, November 21, 2017.
^ 2018 Disaster Management Exchange, Nanjing, China, Officially begins!, By SMG Carolanne Wright, November 14, 2018. US army website.
^ U.S. Army participates in 14th annual Disaster Management Exchange in Nanjing, China, By U.S. Army, November 13, 2018.
^ US Army, PLA Conclude Disaster Management Exchange Despite Frictions. The 2018 iteration of the U.S.-China Disaster Management Exchange concluded in Nanjing. By Ankit Panda, November 19, 2018.
^ ^a ^b US-China hold 15th Annual Disaster Management Exchange, By Maj. Oliver Schuster, November 27, 2019, army. mil website.
^ Facebook post at page for "Pacific Resilience." Linked to from article US, China hold 15th Annual Disaster Management Exchange, at US Army official website.
^ Rising Tensions? Yes, But The U.S. And Chinese Navies Are Training Together, by Elise Hu, NPR, August 31, 2016.
^ US and Chinese warships join forces in massive joint naval exercise in the Pacific. The tactical maneuvering exercise was held before the two navies head to Hawaii for the 2016 Rim of the Pacific multinational naval exercise. Keyan Milanian, 22 June 2016.
^ With 5 Ships and 1,200 Personnel, China Expands RIMPAC 2016 Naval Delegation, The Diplomat, By Ankit Panda, June 18, 2016.
^ "China, US navies implement code of conduct". www.chinadaily.com.cn. China Daily. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
^ US Navy seeks more cooperation with China in counter-piracy exercise, By Hendricks Simoes | Stars and Stripes/ Published: August 26, 2013.
^ US, China Conduct Anti-Piracy Exercise, By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Travis Alston and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eric Coffer, US Navy official website, December 12, 2014.
^ U.S. Coast Guard Has Chinese aboard, by Richard Halloran, realclearpolitics.com, December 10, 2006.
^ Patrol boat diplomacy, PUBLISHED: Saturday, 18 August 2007
^ Coast Guard hosts seven-person Chinese working group in support of Operation North Pacific Guard, Posted by PA1 Jon-Paul Rios, Thursday, March 30, 2017.
^ Chinese, U.S. coast guards perform joint operations in rare bright spot for Sino-American relations, By Jesse Johnson, August 26, 2016.
^ US Coast Guard Chief Seeks Expanded Asia-Pacific Role, November 30, 2016, VOA.
^ The Rising East: Change Comes to U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific by Richard Halloran, September 2, 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c U.S.-China mission rushes bomb-grade nuclear fuel out of Africa, By Richard Stone. August 31, 2017
^ China, US to hold first law enforcement, cybersecurity dialogue, Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-03 16:31:59|Editor: Yang Yi
^ High-level US-China Talks Focus on Immigration, Fugitives, by Nike Ching, Voice of America, October 4, 2017.
^ Fact Sheet: U.S. – China Climate Leaders Summit, September 15–16, 2015, Los Angeles, California. Official US govt website.
^ US-China summit: It's time for some cautious optimism, September 28, 2015.
^ China Eyes Ending Western Grip on Top U.N. Jobs With Greater Control Over Blue Helmets: As China steps up its commitment to U.N. peacekeeping, Beijing is said to be eyeing a leadership role — with potentially troubling human rights implications. By Colum Lynch, foreignpolicy.com, October 2, 2016.

Building a New Type of U.S.-China Military-to-Military Relationship: Building a New Type of U.S.-China Military-to-Military Relationship, An Interview with Major General Yao Yunzhu.By Kyle Churchman, September 18, 2015.
Enhancing U.S.-China Military-to-Military Exchanges, Roy D. Kamphausen, September 22, 2015.

United States

The Army in Multinational Relations, U.S. Department of the Army official manual, April 2014.
Multinational Operations, Official guidebook, Defense Technical Information Center, U.S. Department of Defense, July 16, 2013.
Personnel Support to Joint Operations, U.S. Army Strategic Studies Institute, October 16, 2006.
Joint Operating Environment, U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM), December 2007.
The 5 Most Powerful Navies on the Planet^{[permanent dead link]}, by Kyle Mizokami, Oct 20, 2017.

China

ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2017. US Secretary of Defense.
People's Liberation Army Reforms and Their Ramifications, by Cristina L. Garafola.
Analysis: Radical revamp for People's Liberation Army, by Gordon Arthur, 24 November 2016.
Expect a shakeup of China's military elite at the 19th Party Congress, BY EDITOR ON OCTOBER 18, 2017.
Chinese Strategy and Military Power in 2014: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and US Assessments, By Anthony H. Cordesman.
The Diversified Employment of China's Armed Forces, Information Office of the State Council, The People's Republic of China,　　April 2013, Beijing.
Chinese Strategy and Military Modernization in 2015: A Comparative Analysis, By Anthony H. Cordesman, Steven Colley.
8 things to know about China's biggest army training base. Zhurihe base in Inner Mongolia offers realistic battle conditions in a variety of terrains Monday, 24 July 2017.
TEN REASONS WHY CHINA WILL HAVE TROUBLE FIGHTING A MODERN WAR, DENNIS J. BLASKO, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
PLA organizes free air-combat confrontation drill, Source: China Military Online) 2014-09-15
As overseas ambitions expand, China plans 400 per cent increase to marine corps numbers, sources say, March 13, 2017.
Field Guide: The Culture of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Alison A. Kaufman, Peter W. Mackenzie, CNA CHINA'T+*STUDIES

News Articles

General articles and analysis

China Defense Blog
New Law Allows PLA to Undertake Counterterror Missions Overseas, Feb 2017.
Dunford Arrives in China DoD News, Aug. 14, 2017.
Pentagon's top general signs a new deal with China as Trump signals an easing of tension with North Korea, By Dan Lamothe August 16
Top US general: China will be 'greatest threat' to US by 2025, By Ryan Browne, Wed September 27, 2017.
US, China military chiefs reach deal to reduce 'risk of miscalculation', By James Griffiths, CNN, Wed August 16, 2017.
Here's What a Top General Thinks Is the Next Big Threat to the U.S., Joseph Hincks, Sep 27, 2017.
Department of Defense Press Briefing on U.S. Africa Command by General Thomas D. Waldhauser, commander, U.S. Africa Command, Press Operations, General Thomas D. Waldhauser, March 24, 2017.
Can the U.S. and China Get Along in Africa? Top Commander Urges Military Cooperation After Beijing Opens Base in Djibouti, By Conor Gaffey, 9/14/17.

Specific meetings and joint efforts

By sending general to China, US shows off military ties. Dunford's East Asia trip bolsters efforts to counter North Korea threat, by OKI NAGAI and TSUYOSHI NAGASAWA, Nikkei staff writers, August 19, 2017.
Xi stresses cooperation in talks with US military chief. Washington, Beijing set up new military communication mechanism, by OKI NAGAI, Nikkei, August 18, 2017.
CFE-DM hosts PLA commander, November 2, 2016.
China, US military medical ships exchange visit, 2014-07-22.
Readout of Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work's Meeting with Lt. Gen. Wang Guanzhong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, People's Liberation Army US Defense Dept, Oct. 17, 2014.
Dunford Stresses Diplomacy, Sanctions for North Korea in Talks With Chinese By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity SHENYANG, China, Aug. 16, 2017.

[1] "Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 28 February 2024.

[2] Joint Press Release on the First Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, 7/28/2009.

[3] Statement on Bilateral Meeting With President Hu of China Archived 2009-06-04 at the Wayback Machine. White House Press Office. April 1, 2009.

[4] U.S.–China Strategic Economic Dialogue Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine. U.S. Department of the Treasury.

[5] The Joint Statement between the United States of America and The People's Republic of China on the Inauguration of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, US Treasury Dept website, 9/20/2006.

[6] A Tactical Look at Asia-Pacific Naval Partnerships, by Justin Goldman, May 19, 2015.

[7] New U.S., Chinese MIlitary Communications Agreement Follows Years of Naval Engagement, By: Ben Werner, August 16, 2017.

[8] Erickson, Andrew S. (2019). "U.S.-China Military-to-Military Relations: Policy Considerations in a Changing Environment". Asia Policy. 14 (3): 123–144. ISSN 1559-0968.

[9] Newsham, Grant (2023-06-26). "The Chinese military won't talk to us. So what?". Center for Security Policy. Retrieved 2023-07-23.

[10] U.S., China participate in Disaster Management Exchange, By Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin (US Army8th Theater Sustainment Command) November 22, 2016.

[HADR_2013-11] U.S., China conduct disaster management exchange, by U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs | November 22, 2013.

[12] US and China focus on disaster management, By Russell Dodson, December 10, 2012.

[13] U.S. and Chinese troops connect in first-ever exchange at JBLM, by Adam Ashton, November 20, 2015.

[14] In Pictures: US, China Disaster Management Exchange, November 24, 2015 CBRNE Central.

[15] For the First Time, Chinese Troops Entered an American Base on the West Coast, by Kevin Knodell, November 24, 2015.

[16] US and China conduct rare military drill, By Matt Rivers, CNN, November 21, 2016.

[17] U.S.-China DME participants hold Expert Academic Exchange, By Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin, US Army official website, December 13, 2016.

[18] U.S., China participate in Disaster Management Exchange in Portland By Maj. Lindsey Elder, November 15, 2017, www.army.mil Official US Army website.

[19] US, China Disaster Management Exchange closes out in Oregon By Airman 1st Class Nathan Barbour, November 21, 2017.

[20] 2018 Disaster Management Exchange, Nanjing, China, Officially begins!, By SMG Carolanne Wright, November 14, 2018. US army website.

[21] U.S. Army participates in 14th annual Disaster Management Exchange in Nanjing, China, By U.S. Army, November 13, 2018.

[22] US Army, PLA Conclude Disaster Management Exchange Despite Frictions. The 2018 iteration of the U.S.-China Disaster Management Exchange concluded in Nanjing. By Ankit Panda, November 19, 2018.

[2019_dme_army_website-23] US-China hold 15th Annual Disaster Management Exchange, By Maj. Oliver Schuster, November 27, 2019, army. mil website.

[24] Facebook post at page for "Pacific Resilience." Linked to from article US, China hold 15th Annual Disaster Management Exchange, at US Army official website.

[25] Rising Tensions? Yes, But The U.S. And Chinese Navies Are Training Together, by Elise Hu, NPR, August 31, 2016.

[26] US and Chinese warships join forces in massive joint naval exercise in the Pacific. The tactical maneuvering exercise was held before the two navies head to Hawaii for the 2016 Rim of the Pacific multinational naval exercise. Keyan Milanian, 22 June 2016.

[27] With 5 Ships and 1,200 Personnel, China Expands RIMPAC 2016 Naval Delegation, The Diplomat, By Ankit Panda, June 18, 2016.

[28] "China, US navies implement code of conduct". www.chinadaily.com.cn. China Daily. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.

[29] US Navy seeks more cooperation with China in counter-piracy exercise, By Hendricks Simoes | Stars and Stripes/ Published: August 26, 2013.

[30] US, China Conduct Anti-Piracy Exercise, By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Travis Alston and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eric Coffer, US Navy official website, December 12, 2014.

[31] U.S. Coast Guard Has Chinese aboard, by Richard Halloran, realclearpolitics.com, December 10, 2006.

[32] Patrol boat diplomacy, PUBLISHED: Saturday, 18 August 2007

[33] Coast Guard hosts seven-person Chinese working group in support of Operation North Pacific Guard, Posted by PA1 Jon-Paul Rios, Thursday, March 30, 2017.

[34] Chinese, U.S. coast guards perform joint operations in rare bright spot for Sino-American relations, By Jesse Johnson, August 26, 2016.

[35] US Coast Guard Chief Seeks Expanded Asia-Pacific Role, November 30, 2016, VOA.

[36] The Rising East: Change Comes to U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific by Richard Halloran, September 2, 2012.

[nuclear1-37] U.S.-China mission rushes bomb-grade nuclear fuel out of Africa, By Richard Stone. August 31, 2017

[38] China, US to hold first law enforcement, cybersecurity dialogue, Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-03 16:31:59|Editor: Yang Yi

[39] High-level US-China Talks Focus on Immigration, Fugitives, by Nike Ching, Voice of America, October 4, 2017.

[40] Fact Sheet: U.S. – China Climate Leaders Summit, September 15–16, 2015, Los Angeles, California. Official US govt website.

[41] US-China summit: It's time for some cautious optimism, September 28, 2015.

[42] China Eyes Ending Western Grip on Top U.N. Jobs With Greater Control Over Blue Helmets: As China steps up its commitment to U.N. peacekeeping, Beijing is said to be eyeing a leadership role — with potentially troubling human rights implications. By Colum Lynch, foreignpolicy.com, October 2, 2016.

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United States–China security cooperation

Overview

Specific joint efforts and policy areas

Army

Navy

Coast Guard

Nuclear security

Cyber-security

UN peacekeeping and global security

See also

References

Further reading

Policy studies

United States

China

News Articles

General articles and analysis

Specific meetings and joint efforts

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