xunzi
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2013
- Messages
- 4,735
- Reaction score
- -2
- Country
- Location
US Aircraft Carrier Welcomes Chinese Military Officials Aboard, Seeks Return Invite
Jun. 15, 2014 - 12:02PM |
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE | Comments
A US Navy Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet multirole fighter jet takes off on the flight deck of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, some 300kms off the coast of Hong Kong on June 15. (Philippe Lopez / AFP)
ABOARD USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, HONG KONG — The US Navy on Sunday welcomed four members of China’s military aboard one of its aircraft carriers — and said it hoped to receive a return invite someday.
The four People’s Liberation Army members were among guests flown by a C-2 Greyhound aircraft to the USS George Washington for a “VIP visit” before it berths Monday off Hong Kong on a routine call.
Tensions are high in the South China Sea and East China Sea as Beijing asserts its sovereignty over reefs and islands also claimed by US allies such as Japan and the Philippines.
But Rear Adm.l Mark C. Montgomery, commander of the task force headed by the carrier, said US-Chinese military relations have “moderately improved” in the past six months.
China last week confirmed it would take part for the first time in a major US-organized naval drill, the Rim of the Pacific multinational exercise, later this month.
In May China’s military chief toured American warships in the United States despite the heightened tensions in Southeast Asia.
Hong Kong also has continued to host visits by US warships despite reverting to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.
A general from the PLA’s Hong Kong garrison was among those visiting the George Washington Sunday as it sailed 200 miles south of the city.
Montgomery said it might now be appropriate for Beijing to return the favor by offering a visit to its sole carrier, the Liaoning.
“I think that in an effort towards increased transparency in a broad bilateral partnership, I think a US visit would be appropriate,” he told AFP and other media visiting the ship.
Guests were treated to a display of take-offs and landings by some of the carrier’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft.
But Montgomery declined comment on the US decision to send another aircraft carrier to the Gulf as the situation in Iraq worsens.
And he called for a diplomatic solution to the territorial issues in the South China Sea.
“Principally the role of the United States Navy is to serve as a stabilizing force and demonstrate US commitment to the region overall,” he said.
-----------
Post in the wrong section. Can @MOD move to China Far East section please? Thank you!
Jun. 15, 2014 - 12:02PM |
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE | Comments
A US Navy Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet multirole fighter jet takes off on the flight deck of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, some 300kms off the coast of Hong Kong on June 15. (Philippe Lopez / AFP)
ABOARD USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, HONG KONG — The US Navy on Sunday welcomed four members of China’s military aboard one of its aircraft carriers — and said it hoped to receive a return invite someday.
The four People’s Liberation Army members were among guests flown by a C-2 Greyhound aircraft to the USS George Washington for a “VIP visit” before it berths Monday off Hong Kong on a routine call.
Tensions are high in the South China Sea and East China Sea as Beijing asserts its sovereignty over reefs and islands also claimed by US allies such as Japan and the Philippines.
But Rear Adm.l Mark C. Montgomery, commander of the task force headed by the carrier, said US-Chinese military relations have “moderately improved” in the past six months.
China last week confirmed it would take part for the first time in a major US-organized naval drill, the Rim of the Pacific multinational exercise, later this month.
In May China’s military chief toured American warships in the United States despite the heightened tensions in Southeast Asia.
Hong Kong also has continued to host visits by US warships despite reverting to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.
A general from the PLA’s Hong Kong garrison was among those visiting the George Washington Sunday as it sailed 200 miles south of the city.
Montgomery said it might now be appropriate for Beijing to return the favor by offering a visit to its sole carrier, the Liaoning.
“I think that in an effort towards increased transparency in a broad bilateral partnership, I think a US visit would be appropriate,” he told AFP and other media visiting the ship.
Guests were treated to a display of take-offs and landings by some of the carrier’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft.
But Montgomery declined comment on the US decision to send another aircraft carrier to the Gulf as the situation in Iraq worsens.
And he called for a diplomatic solution to the territorial issues in the South China Sea.
“Principally the role of the United States Navy is to serve as a stabilizing force and demonstrate US commitment to the region overall,” he said.
-----------
Post in the wrong section. Can @MOD move to China Far East section please? Thank you!
Last edited:
