Disputes won’t exclude China from RIMPAC

The U.S. invitation allowing China to participate in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific maritime exercises off Hawaii appears to be holding — even as American accusations fly that China is militarizing the South China Sea, while China maintains America has no business “provoking the new maritime order.”

In the latest bit of tit for tat, the destroyer USS William P. Lawrence — slated to move to Pearl Harbor late this summer — sailed within 12 nautical miles Tuesday of Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea and an artificial island that China created. The “freedom of navigation” demonstration drew a prompt rebuke from China.

Hawaii’s four-member congressional delegation is mostly in favor of allowing China to have a role in RIMPAC, but U.S. Rep. Mark Takai wants the Pentagon to “make its case” for China’s involvement before the exercise begins in late June.

China’s claims on much of the South China Sea — and rapid buildup of artificial islands with runways, deep-water ports, anti-air missiles and fighter jets — have alarmed the United States and prompted further military posturing on both sides.

China surprised the U.S. Navy when officials were notified via diplomatic note on April 28 that a planned May 3-8 port visit to Hong Kong by the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier strike group and four of its ships (the Lawrence and Pearl Harbor- based USS Chung-Hoon among them) was being denied by China.

“We were not given a specific reason for the denial,” said Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Bill Urban.

Despite regular debate over whether China should be disinvited from RIMPAC, Urban said last week the offer still stands.

“We continuously review all military-to-military activities with China, including participation in RIMPAC, to assess their consistency with U.S. objectives and the regional security environment,” Urban said in an email. “Currently, no adjustment has been made to our invitation to China to participate in RIMPAC.”

The Chinese hospital ship Peace Ark and three other People’s Liberation Army Navy ships are expected in Pearl Harbor for the exercise, officials said. A Navy planning document said RIMPAC will be held June 30 to Aug. 4 in and around Hawaii.

China sent four ships to RIMPAC in 2014 for its inaugural involvement: the Peace Ark, destroyer Haikou, frigate Yueyang and supply ship Qiandaohu — while a fifth vessel, a spy ship, stayed far offshore.

The big maritime interoperability exercise is held every other year. Twenty-two nations, 49 surface ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel participated in 2014.

Takai said in March he wanted to bar China from RIMPAC, but has moderated that stand somewhat.

“Though I originally intended to ban Chinese participation in the exercise due to their increasingly aggressive behavior, some of our senior military leaders still see value in their participation,” Takai said in a news release.

A requirement for the Pentagon “to make its case before the exercise starts” was put into a defense bill by Takai.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, meanwhile, said in meeting with senior Pentagon officials that “there is agreement that including China in joint military exercises such as RIMPAC is important to advance U.S. interests in our complex but critical relationship.”

“China will remain a key actor in our country’s rebalance to the Asia-Pacific,” Hirono said in an email. “I support China’s participation in RIMPAC, which is restricted to humanitarian and search and rescue operations, because it provides the United States and other countries participating in RIMPAC with an opportunity to advance military-to-military relationships and enhance cooperation in the region.”

China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and the Philippines have competing claims in the South China Sea, but China’s efforts to build artificial islands — not recognized as Chinese territory by the United States — had reached almost 3,000 acres by last summer.

The United States is worried that China’s actions could have far-reaching security and economic consequences if China disrupts international law protecting freedom of navigation. More than $5.3 trillion in global sea-based trade passes annually through the South China Sea.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said China’s actions in the South China Sea are “completely out of bounds with international law,” and that’s why it’s important to continue U.S. freedom of navigation operations. “We cannot let them unilaterally redraw the region’s maritime borders.”

Schatz added: “At the same time, America has an interest in talking with the Chinese military during peacetime and creating opportunities for China to meaningfully contribute to regional security. That is what RIMPAC aims to do. Chinese participation, while limited, will bring the PLA (Chinese) navy together with other partner nations to explore opportunities for trust-building.”

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said that “disinviting China from RIMPAC will not accomplish anything.” The goal of RIMPAC is to bring countries together from across the Asia-Pacific to work together, which is a “worthy objective which should be pursued,” she said.

RIMPAC has a precedent for blocking participation due to perceived bad behavior: Thailand was disinvited prior to the 2014 exercise because of a military coup and human rights issues.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2000 prohibits military contact with China if that contact creates a national security risk due to exposure to operations including advanced combined-arms and joint combat drills.

The aircraft carrier Stennis will participate in the upcoming RIMPAC. China reacted angrily when the Lawrence, one of its strike group ships, sailed near Fiery Cross Reef.

The destroyer “illegally” entered the waters near the island, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Tuesday. The Lawrence “threatened China’s sovereignty and security interests” and “jeopardized regional peace and stability,” he said.

“Again, we oppose such moves by the U.S. side and will continue to take necessary measures to protect China’s sovereignty and security,” Lu said.