Gates to visit China, Japan in January
Published: December 22, 2010
ARLINGTON, Va. – Two weeks after Adm. Mike Mullen spilled the beans at a press conference in Japan, the Pentagon made it official on Wednesday: Defense Secretary Robert Gates will travel to China next month, hoping to launch a new era of openness with the largest military on Earth.
While not exactly a “bucket list” item, Gates’ Jan. 9-12 visit comes in the twilight of his tenure at the Pentagon – likely in public service altogether – and presents a historic opportunity for him to set in motion a period of steadier, more transparent U.S.-Chinese military relations. After presiding over the drawdown of the Iraq war, repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell”, a new nuclear treaty with Russia, and a modernized NATO – opening China’s military would be a remarkable coda to Gates’ efforts at directing America’s security interests into the 21st century. That is, if he can do it.
All year, Gates has expressed frustration that U.S.-Chinese military relations lagged behind economic, cultural and political advances. Despite reported indications that Beijing’s political leaders wanted Gates to visit in June, China’s military refused, continuing its protest of a major U.S. arms sale to Taiwan earlier this year.
More recently, China was thrust onto front pages in the wake of North Korea’s deadly shelling of a South Korean island. Having had enough, Obama administration, South Korean and Japanese defense officials are calling out China for not condemning Pyongyang harshly enough or responding forcefully enough.
China mostly has rebuffed the outside pressure, calling for more talks. But in a sign of the thaw, China’s defense political leaders continued with a Dec. 10, Pentagon visit for consultative talks with Michele Flournoy, Gates’ undersecretary of defense for policy.
Details for the trip remain unset, but Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said Gates will meet with several top defense and political leaders, including China’s national defense minister Gen. Liang Guanglie.
“It’s still being put together,” Morrell said, on the phone with Pentagon reporters, “but we’re looking at a range of – in addition to all the meetings with senior Chinese leadership – perhaps a visit to a Chinese military installation, a [People’s Liberation Army] facility, and probably a cultural event as well.”
When another Gates’ counterpart, Gen. Xu Caihou, toured the U.S. in the fall of 2009, he was taken to several U.S. bases from Washington to Hawaii.
After leaving China, Gates will spend two days in Japan meeting Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and other leaders.
Check back here for continuing coverage of Gates in China. Stars and Stripes will be aboard the plane.
Related:
Mullen calls out China, rejects talks with North Korea
