Western Pacific Naval Symposium: The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has announced that tomorrow marks the opening of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS), which will bring together more than 180 navy representatives from 29 nations in the port city of Qingdao, China.
According to diplomatic sources, the US delegation will be escorted to the four-day event hosted by the Chinese navy by Admiral Stephen Koehler, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet.
During the conference with the subject “Seas of Shared Future,” Koehler is anticipated to meet “his Chinese counterparts,” an informed diplomat told the Post.
Another diplomatic source verified that Koehler will be present and stated, “Both sides are looking for more communications.”
This occurs merely four days after Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke. Following Dong’s appointment to the position in December, this video call on Tuesday marked the first US-China exchange at the defense chief level in almost 17 months.
According to Senior Colonel Qu Tao of the PLA Navy staff department office, navy representatives from the US, Russia, Japan, Australia, Cambodia, Chile, France, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom will also be present this year.
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The region is seeing an increase in maritime safety threats and problems, which coincides with the 19th edition of the biennial gathering.
As per SCMP, Qu stated that the WPNS has developed into a significant forum for navies of different nations to “engage in communication, enhance mutual trust, and deepen cooperation” during a news conference in Qingdao on Saturday.
According to Qu, the Chinese navy was prepared to cooperate with its counterparts to enhance the development of a marine community with a shared future, address dangers and difficulties related to maritime safety, and advance regional and global marine governance. The WPNS was last held in China in 2014.
After months of heightened tensions, the world’s two largest military forces have held several high-level meetings, the most recent of which would be the anticipated discussions between the US and Chinese navy leaders. The meeting took place in November during a presidential summit in California.
Next week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is anticipated to visit China as well. Blinken recently had a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Germany. This is Blinken’s second trip in less than a year, and it coincides with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent visit.
Zhu Feng, executive dean of Nanjing University’s School of International Studies, stated, “With tensions running high in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and the East China Sea… this year’s symposium will also provide opportunities for countries to express their concerns and worries in the maritime field and deepen their understandings.”
Former PLA instructor Song Zhongping stated that increased agreement is needed to manage or prevent inadvertent collisions because of recent advancements at sea, such as the deployment of surface vessels and unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance and other purposes.
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According to Song, “unmanned systems highlight potential threats to maritime security and pose new challenges to the establishment of maritime safety mechanisms.” “To upgrade the mechanism for unplanned encounters at sea, it is imperative that this year’s forum address these new crises and sources of danger.”
China’s official media said in January that nations attending a workshop on the WPNS had accepted a proposal to talk about forming a working group tasked with investigating measures to stop drone crashes.
Koehler’s participation, according to analysts, underscored the necessity for US-China military leaders at all levels to increase communication and cooperation while lowering errors in judgment.
Senior Chinese and US naval officials are expected to meet at the WPNS, according to Zhu of Nanjing University. These talks might “facilitate frank dialogue across multiple levels and fields and help stabilise bilateral ties.”
Song, meanwhile, hoped Koehler’s involvement would go beyond a simple “gestural move.”
“Instead of continuously increasing provocations against China, US participation at the symposium should involve concrete efforts to help cool down tensions and contribute to peace and stability in the West Pacific,” he stated.
Recent confrontations between competing claimants Analysts anticipate that the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea will be discussed at the meeting, even if Song says it might not be “smooth sailing.”
Song remarked, “After all, some countries might not have their ulterior motives and not focus on the bigger picture.” “From Beijing’s standpoint, it will work to resolve the political and military tensions in the area by completing the Code of Conduct.”
The 75th anniversary of the PLA Navy’s formation falls during this year’s WPNS, and several commemoration events will be held from Sunday to Wednesday, according to a spokesman at the press conference on Saturday.
The public will be able to board six warships during the festivities, which will take place at important navy ports including Qingdao, Dalian, Yantai, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, Haikou, and Sanya, according to the spokesman.
However, unlike in 2019 during the PLA Navy’s 70th anniversary celebrations, there won’t be a fleet review.
