Admiral Wu Shengli, I know him personally as well. “As I talk to my counterparts in China – the South Sea Fleet commander, the East Sea Fleet commander, the North Sea Fleet commander – I know these gentlemen personally. Swift said he enjoys personal relationships with most Chinese Navy fleet commanders. “We’re making some progress, the conversation is deepening, but it’s been difficult to have the conversation, even to start the conversation.” … “We’re going to continue to push at it,” Swift said. The US has been urging the Chinese Coast Guard to join the agreement, but so far to no avail. “We have a mechanism now that has diminished the impact of the language barrier, we have a mechanism to communicate that transcends the differences between Chinese and English with the PLAN. “CUES has been incredibly important in reducing the uncertainty,” Swift said. At least 21 countries have signed the agreement, including China, but not every Chinese maritime agency is taking part. Swift noted that relationships with the Chinese Navy remain professional, and lauded the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), a 2014 agreement establishing procedures and protocols to keep incidents from escalating in scale or becoming violent. And if they’re being command-and-controlled I have an obligation to treat them exactly like I do any other unit that’s being command-and-controlled.” “I’ve made it clear in my conversations with my counterparts that they’re being commanded and controlled. “There needs to be precision in how we talk about the maritime militia,” Swift said. Their ships have had a strong hand in numerous encounters at sea and on one occasion obstructed a US Navy surveillance ship and tried to snatch its towed listening gear. On at least one occasion they were referred to as a film crew. It’s transparent to me,” he said.Ĭhinese officials routinely deny any government connection, and have described the militia as fishermen wearing camouflage uniforms for sun protection. “I think they have a clear command and control. And while not strictly a military force, the militia, to Swift, are not acting randomly. The militia “are operating largely independently out there or in groups,” Swift said. Xi Jinping has gone to visit them, recognized them publicly for their great efforts.” The militia, Swift said, “are structured. They’re well organized,” Swift told a small group of reporters in Washington Nov. “Let’s be careful to not characterize them as, you know, a rag-tag group of fishermen. But a third government-controlled seagoing force, the little-known and somewhat mysterious maritime militia, is drawing increased attention. Scott Swift’s concerns is China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and close behind is the country’s burgeoning Coast Guard. WASHINGTON Near the top of US Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Cavas, “ China’s Maritime Militia a Growing Concern,” Defense News, 21 November 2016.
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