U.S. and Chinese military officials recently held a meeting to address what the U.S.-Indo Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) calls “unsafe and unprofessional” actions by the Chinese regime’s navy and air force.
The semi-annual Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) talks were held between April 2 and April 3 in Shanghai, following China’s live-fire drills that took place near Taiwan on April 1 and April 2.
“Representatives from U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, and U.S. Coast Guard met with representatives from China’s People Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and Air Force,” INDOPACOM confirmed in an April 3 statement.
The meeting was “focused on decreasing the incidences of unsafe and unprofessional” actions of the Chinese navy and air force, it said.
The U.S. State Department criticized the Chinese regime’s military drills, saying on April 1, “Once again, China’s aggressive military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan only serve to exacerbate tensions and put the region’s security and the world’s prosperity at risk.”
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officials countered that U.S. surveillance near Chinese shores drives their responses, China Military Online, the PLA’s official news website, reported on April 5.
The MMCA, established in 1998, is a bilateral agreement between the United States and China aimed at preventing unintended conflicts.
For the United States, the talks focused on safety amid PLA aggression toward allies.
“No unsafe incidents have occurred between U.S. and Chinese forces recently, but encounters persist with America’s partners,” an INDOPACOM spokesperson told The Epoch Times on April 7, referring to two incidents of Chinese aggression against Australia and the Philippines.
On Feb. 11, the “PLA-Air Force J-16 fighter released flares within 30 meters of a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon during routine surveillance in the South China Sea,” the spokesperson said.
Following the incident, Australia’s Department of Defense said in a statement, “This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel,” adding that “Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner.”
On April 6, a Chinese Coast Guard ship and a Philippine vessel nearly collided in waters off Zambales.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, during a press conference on April 7, said: “Disregarding collision regulations, they appeared to be moving forward on a head-to-head collision course towards the Philippine Coast Guard vessel.
“Through the seamanship skills of the Philippine Coast Guard sailors, we were able to prevent such [a] collision from happening.”
Tarriela said the Chinese ship carried out “reckless and dangerous maneuvers, displaying a blatant disregard for safety.”
INDOPACOM commander Adm. Samuel Paparo testified before the House Armed Services Committee on April 9 and will testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 10, with his remarks covering MMCA outcomes and allied incidents.