The talks and their context highlight an important element of Canada’s strategic approach to China, say observers. While political issues of the day continue to create waves, the two militaries are taking tentative but concrete steps toward each other.
Between Nov. 26 and Nov. 28, a round of high-level talks occurred between the Canadian Armed Forces and China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army, representatives from both sides have confirmed. They were the first under the so-called Defence Coordination Dialogue announced in June.
The meeting was between Rear Admiral Li Ji, the deputy director of the Chinese military’s foreign affairs office, and Major General Mike Hood, the staff director of a powerful but little-known Canadian military body called the Strategic Joint Staff.
“The talk was frankly embraced with plenty of subjects,” reads a statement released to Embassy from the Chinese Embassy’s defence attaché, Senior Colonel Daozhong Li. He positioned the meeting as one outcome of “warmer and closer” military-to-military relations over the last two years.
The Chinese say they had “an extensive discussion” with the Canadians on topics such as China’s participation for the first time in the world’s largest maritime military exercise, RIMPAC, or Rim of the Pacific.
The two sides also discussed “how to maintain and promote mil-mil relations between Canada and China,” a “visits exchange plan” for 2014, and “common views of international and regional situations,” according to the senior colonel. They agreed to meet in Beijing next year for a second round.
MGen. Hood was not available for an interview, and the Department of National Defence is staying mum on any details.
“This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest,” wrote Major Andre E. Salloum, public affairs officer for the Strategic Joint Staff, in an emailed response to questions.
“Due to the preliminary nature of the discussions we will not elaborate further on what was discussed.”
Maj. Salloum also did not elaborate on CAF personnel visits to China in 2014, writing that “details and specifics of these future visits have not been finalized.”
Stability promotion
The dialogue was first announced this past summer as one of the last major moves by Peter MacKay as defence minister. He travelled to Beijing and met the Chinese defence minister, Chang Wanquan, on June 3 on Gen. Chang’s invitation.
“Both ministers agreed to establish a Defence Coordination Dialogue to exchange views on issues of common interest and discuss defence engagement plans,” the government stated at the time. Gen. Chang then visited Canada in late August to meet newly installed Defence Minister Rob Nicholson and Foreign Minister John Baird.
The joint dialogue is an example of what’s known as “staff talks,” said Elinor Sloan, a former defence analyst with the Department of National Defence, and now a professor of international relations at Carleton University.
“Canada’s concern is that there’s stability, that a small crisis doesn’t blow up. The way that can be established is through a long-term period of dialogue, discussion, getting to know the leaders, getting to know the forces,” she said.
“When a small issue then has the potential to escalate, there’s somewhere for it to go, to be defused.”
The Chinese Embassy statement seems to reflect this logic: “military exchanges constitute an important part of the China-Canada Strategic Partnership, and are indispensable in promoting mutual understanding and trust between the two countries,” it reads.
Adam Segal, the Maurice R. Greenberg senior fellow for China studies at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations, agreed that the purpose of such talks would be “to try and reduce mistrust and misperceptions between the two sides.”
The PLA’s foreign affairs office, where the Chinese rear admiral works, manages all its interactions with other foreign militaries, said Mr. Segal, and “they have grown increasingly active over the last decade and a half.” Its representatives are picked because they are considered to be good at handling foreigners, he said.
Two levels
The dialogue is also notable as it occurred days after China declared an “air defence identification zone” on Nov. 23 over the East China Sea, that appears to have inflamed an already intense island territorial dispute with Japan. Within the same day, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was out with a statement that the US “is deeply concerned” by China’s move.
Mr. Baird also expressed concern Dec. 2, calling the move “unhelpful.” South Korea and Japan have expressed similar dissatisfaction. The statements also follow Canada’s signing of an Asia-Pacific Defense Policy Cooperation Framework with the US on Nov. 22.
The defence department declined to answer questions on MGen. Hood’s position on China’s declaration of an air defence zone in the East China Sea, saying it was a matter best put to the foreign affairs department.
But observers say the fact that the China-Canada talks were occurring demonstrates that the relationship has evolved.
“In working with China, you can talk and chew gum at the same time,” said Paul Evans, director of the Institute of Asian Research and professor at the Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia.
“I think that it’s a sign of maturity that you can be having discussions while at the same time, you also raise some markers of concern.”
Ms. Sloan said “it’s hard to get the military and the political to line up.”
Often it’s the case that when Canada-US political relations hit a snag, she said as an example, military leaders on both sides of the border continue to have great relations, at least publicly.
It isn’t always the case with China, however, according to Mr. Segal. He said the Chinese have “often” cut off military-to-military talks with the Americans when they are upset over something. Talks were broken off over US arms sales to Taiwan, he said.
“China firmly pursues a national defense policy which is purely defensive in nature,” reads Snr. Col. Li’s statement.
“China places the protection of national sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, safeguarding of the interests of national development, and the interests of the Chinese people above all else.”
RIMPAC interest
During his June meeting with Gen. Chang, Mr. MacKay noted that the “Canadian Armed Forces will take part in a common Asia-Pacific exercise with their Chinese counterparts.”
At the time, China had just accepted a United States invitation to partake in the Rim of the Pacific exercise for the first time in 2014.
RIMPAC takes place every two years off the coast of Hawaii, and attracts significant Canadian participation. During the last round in 2012, for example, Canada offered up more than 1,400 CAF personnel and several ships and planes, according to a military press release.
MGen. Hood knows RIMPAC quite well: he was singled out by the Canadian government on June 3, 2012 to take part in the previous RIMPAC as the Combined Forces Air Component Commander.
Maj. Salloum declined to offer details of any Canadian help to China for its RIMPAC preparation, writing that “we have not solidified any plans with regards to preparation for next year’s RIMPAC.”
The Chinese would only be involved in a limited number of activities, said Ms. Sloan, such as disaster management or humanitarian emergencies.
“But it is a step forward that they’re actually going to be involved, that they were actually invited to participate this year.”
A critical player
The Strategic Joint Staff is a high-level group inside the defence department that provides “strategic level military analysis and decision support” to the chief of defence staff, General Tom Lawson, according to a Transport Canada document.
A January 2012 Canadian Press piece says the SJS “oversees virtually every major aspect of the military’s domestic and international plans and operations.”
Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Andrew Leslie’s 2011 report on transformation recommended making the SJS “the primary conduit for military advice” to Gen. Lawson, and for it to become the main channel between military and civilian personnel inside the defence department.
That has partly occurred, said David Perry, a defence analyst with the Conference of Defence Associations Institute. The body has expanded to undertake a “general support function” to all of national defence headquarters, he said.
MGen. Hood has been directing the SJS staff for less than a year, having been appointed to the slot in February. He replaced Major-General J.H. Vance, who is now in Naples, Italy as the deputy commander of NATO’s southern Europe command post.
MGen. Hood is a “critical player” in tying together the military elements within the department, Mr. Perry said.
Original Article
Source: embassynews.ca/
Author: Carl Meyer
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