China delegates watch US carrier exercises
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2006-06-20 06:50 Delegates from the People's
Liberation Army of China visited a US aircraft carrier for the first time,
before the US started a major set of exercises off the Pacific Island of Guam,
Xinhua news agency reported today.
It's the first time that China has sent delegates to watch US military
exercises on American territory. It's also the first time that China has been
invited to observe exercises solely conducted by the US Army.
The Chinese delegation visited the flight deck, hangar, command post and
flight control post of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), the largest and latest US
aircraft carrier. They watched carrier planes' taking-off and landing, formation
flying, among other training exercises. Chinese officials also exchanged views
with their US peers on weaponry, equipment, tactics, command and management,
Xinhua said.
Officers, diplomats and reporters from China, Australia, India, Japan, South
Korea and Singapore also boarded the Ronald Reagan, along with the Abraham
Lincoln (CVN-72) and Kitty Hawk (CV-63) aircraft carriers, by plane.
The US Pacific Command announced on June 5 that the United States army would
hold a large-scale exercise in the sea near Guam from June 19 to June 23. Three
aircraft carrier fleets would take part in the exercises, involving a total of
30 warships, 280 warplanes and 22,000 soldiers.
The exercise will focus on the integration of joint training programs among
the US military forces, according to the US Pacific Command.
William Fallon, the commander of the US Pacific Command, officially invited
the Chinese officials to view the exercises during his visit to China in
May.
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