A delegation of five Members of the US House of Representatives, in partnership with the National Committee on US-China Relations, returned to Washington DC from China after achieving a series of first time visits with Chinese military leaders and activities in support of furthering the US-China military to military relationship. The delegation visited Beijing, Qingdao, Chengdu, and Shanghai before returning to Washington DC late Sunday night.
“This US-China Working Group trip to China was certainly a trip of many firsts,” said Rep. Rick Larsen, co-chair of the US-China Working Group. “Most notably, while in Qingdao, we were the first American civilians to board and tour a Song Class People Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) submarine. It took some persistence on our delegation’s part to make it happen, but the importance of these firsts should not be underestimated in light of the recent resumption in US-China mil-to-mil talks,” said Larsen. The Song class is the most advanced diesel-electric attack submarine type to have been designed and built by indigenous Chinese effort. US military leaders have visited the boat in the past but we were the first American civilians to be invited and take the opportunity to make the visit.
Other key firsts for the trip included the first foreign civilian delegation to tour and visit the PLA-N Submarine Academy and the first to visit PLA-N North Sea Fleet Headquarters. The group led by Larsen and Rep. Charles Boustany, co-chair of the USCWG, included Representatives Eric Paulsen (MN), Hank Johnson (GA) and Mike Coffman (CO).
While in Beijing, the delegation also shared dinner with PLA General Chen Bingde, China’s top military officer.
“Our Chinese hosts saw the importance of the visit as it is a major step in openness and transparency in the U.S.-China relationship,” Boustany said. “Our delegation stressed the importance of a consistent sustained military-to-military agenda – one that parallels or is integrated into existing U.S.-China discussions. We emphasized Congress is keenly interested in the progress to deepen trust between our two countries."
Following the dinner, General Chen announced that he will be visiting Washington DC for high-level military dialogues later this month. Another key visit was to the Chengdu Aircraft Industry (CAI) Group – specifically the Chengdu State Aircraft Factory 132, a supplier of aircraft for the Chinese military. – and the manufacturer of China’s new J-20 Stealth Fighter.
The delegation was also told that they were the first Congressional delegation to tour the Flying Tiger museum in Chengdu. The visits added to more firsts for that the USCWG has achieved since being founded in 2005. In January 2006, the USCWG was the first to visit the Chinese space launch facility in Jiuquan.
In August, 2007, the USCWG was the first to visit the Chinese taikonaut training facility.
“There are current attempts in Congress to cut down exchanges and engagements between US and Chinese government agencies. We seek to expand the engagement opportunities between our two countries whenever appropriate,” said Larsen and Boustany.
