US will not send warships to the 70th anniversary of the Chinese Navy
(Baonghean.vn) - The US has decided not to send warships or high-ranking military officers to attend the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy later this month.
This move is seen as a "cold" attitude from Washington, even though US allies Japan and South Korea will send ships and officials to attend.
Last week, China's Defense Ministry announced that more than 60 countries would send naval delegations to the multinational event on April 23, which will include a fleet parade featuring naval vessels from countries including South Korea, the Philippines and Japan.
In an interview with the Japan Times on April 5, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Dave Eastburn said that the military attaché office of the US Embassy in Beijing will represent the US in participating in a fleet parade and a conference in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao from April 22-25.
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| 60 countries will send naval delegations to attend China's multinational event on April 23. Photo: Getty |
"The US government looks forward to building a bilateral relationship that is results-oriented and risk-reducing," Eastburn said. The US Navy will continue to engage with the Chinese navy "through traditional military-to-military dialogues, such as working groups under the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement and discussions on a Code of Conduct," Eastburn said.
According to Professor Zhang Bohui, Director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at Lingnan University (Hong Kong), the US decision not to send warships or high-ranking officials to attend the 70th anniversary of the Chinese Navy "is clearly a sign of the White House's tougher policy towards China".
Professor Truong shared: "In the past, it was the US that tried to build military relations between the two countries. Now, the Trump administration views China as a strategic competitor, and Washington's current policy is competition instead of engagement."
According to Mr. Truong, the US decision will not cause Japan and South Korea to withdraw.
"Japan has improved its relations with China in many ways. In the context of Tokyo's concerns about US trade and alliance policies, its foreign policy under Prime Minister Abe has become increasingly independent. Meanwhile, South Korea under President Moon Jae-in, a liberal, wants good relations with Beijing. Therefore, I think both countries will send warships to the event," Zhang explained.
