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Different Views
Chinese military personnel have had more exchanges with foreign counterparts and they were more open to expressing their views.
US Defense Secretary Hagel probably felt the openness of Chinese military personnel in his April visit. Fan Changlong, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, showed dissatisfaction in front of the media regarding some remarks made by Hagel. Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan emphasized, “We never comprise, retreat or trade on issues concerning territory and sovereignty, and we never allow any infringement.”
In May, PLA Chief of General Staff Fang Fenghui advised his U.S. counterpart recognize and observe what happens in the East China Sea and South China Sea, in order to avoid disturbing the general situation of Sino-U.S. national and military relations. He stressed that China had never caused trouble, but was never be fearful of trouble. China was firm in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity: “We do what we say,” he said.
At the end of May, the Shangri-la Dialogue was held in Singapore, but the summit was slightly strained. After the United States and Japan criticized China openly and behind closed doors, PLA Deputy Chief of General Staff Wang Guanzhong made a final key-note speech. He first made a comparison how the two nations had ridiculed and accused others, and then, he said that China and the United States would encounter frictions, differences, disputes and even confrontations, but these were not to be feared as it was essential for the two sides to face the contradictions and differences, so as to quickly resolve misunderstandings, and try their best to find an intersection point between the two.
The collision of these views indicates that Chinese and foreign forces need further mutual recognition and contacts, but it also shows the Chinese army has reached a hitherto unknown depth in its exchanges and cooperation with foreign forces. A war of words is better than conflict. It shows that the Chinese army is willing to increase mutual understanding, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, on the basis of mutual respect with other forces.
