DATE=7/28/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=U-S / CHINA'S MILITARY
NUMBER=5-46752
BYLINE=ED WARNER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  U-S military leaders have been maintaining 
close contacts with their Chinese counterparts with 
the idea of improving relations and keeping track of 
what China is up to.  But participants in a recent 
gathering at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative 
Washington research institute, questioned the 
usefulness of such cooperation.  They suggested China 
is benefiting more from it than the United States and 
proposed stricter guidelines for future relations.   
V-O-A's Ed Warner reports on the discussion.


TEXT:  Larry Wortzel likes to describe the 
relationship between U-S and Chinese military leaders 
in terms of a one-sided romance.  An ardent suitor, he 
notes, is at a disadvantage.  The object of his 
affection sets the agenda.  How much affection he 
receives depends on his behavior.

And Mr. Wortzel told a gathering at the Heritage 
Foundation that to a large extent, the U-S military 
has become the suitor of China.  As a former U-S naval 
intelligence officer stationed in Beijing, he believes 
top military officers have been too generous with 
information in an effort to win Chinese friendship.

Mr. Wortzel cites an example of what he calls 
misplaced romance:

      /// WORTZEL ACT ///

      A four-star general comes out there and decides 
      to hand out candy because he is going to turn 
      the Chinese into great friends.  And he gives 
      them all the simulation in software on how to 
      run a brigade and division integrated attack.  I 
      said, "General, this really is just not a good 
      thing.  You do not want to do this." But he did. 
      About nine years later, I visited their army 
      command college, and there is that software 
      simulating attacks across the Taiwan Strait.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Wortzel says providing so much information may 
mislead Beijing about the U-S determination to defend 
Taiwan.  The Chinese may be getting the wrong message 
and act accordingly.

The U-S Congress is also uneasy about the military 
relationship with China, says Al Santoli, foreign 
policy adviser to California Congressman Dana 
Rohrabacher:

            /// SANTOLI ACT ///

      What got our concern was the number of exchanges 
      of Chinese military personnel attending 
      seminars, observing exercises or visiting 
      locations where critical tactical functions that 
      would enhance their military modernization were 
      taking place, and the access they would have to 
      American experts that would help facilitate 
      their modernization.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Santoli expects increased congressional scrutiny 
of U-S military dealings with China.

But these relations often serve a useful purpose, 
contends Randy Schriver, a former Defense Department 
official:

            /// SCHRIVER ACT ONE ///

      The primary objective is to establish clear 
      lines of communication between senior leaders. I 
      believe dialogue is good.  Dialogue is helpful.  
      It reduces the chances of miscommunication and 
      miscalculation.  If it is becoming increasingly 
      dangerous to operate in proximity to one 
      another, I think it is important to takes steps 
      to address that.

            /// END ACT //

Mr. Schriver says bringing younger Chinese officers to 
the United States is especially useful because they 
get a chance to see the real America and are suitably 
impressed.  But he doubts Americans learn much in 
China where so much is off limits.

In contrast to the Chinese, he says Americans like to 
show what they have:

             /// SCHRIVER ACT TWO //

      Here is everything we have got, and here is how 
      we can hurt you in so many different ways.  The 
      Chinese concept is you have no idea of what we 
      have got. You have no idea either how bad or how 
      good we are, and that is their deterrent effect. 
      They are not going to open up.

            /// END ACT ///

Given this difference, Mr. Schriver says Americans 
dealing with the Chinese military should be cordial 
but watchful, realistic rather than romantic.

Larry Wortzel offers some guidelines for approaching 
the Peoples' Liberation Army: 

            /// WORTZEL ACT ///

      Do nothing to improve the P-L-A's capability to 
      wage war against Taiwan or U-S friends and 
      allies.  Do nothing to improve the P-L-A's 
      ability to project force and do nothing to 
      improve the P-L-A's ability to further repress 
      the Chinese people.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Wortzel says that still leaves a lot of room for 
discussion. (signed)

NEB/EW/JP




28-Jul-2000 14:02 PM LOC (28-Jul-2000 1802 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.