Joint Press Conference with Secretary
Hagel and Minister Chang in Beijing, China○DoD(2014.04.08)http://www.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=5411
Presenters: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Chinese
Minister of Defense Chang
Wanquan
April 08, 2014
April 08, 2014
MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being
here. General Chang and Secretary
Hagel have just completed their
talks and it is our great honor to have them with us and to take your
questions. First of all, I would like to
give the floor to General Chang .
MINISTER OF DEFENSE CHANG WANQUAN
(THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Dear friends from
press, upon my
invitation, U.S.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is visiting China from April the 4th through the 10th. This is the reciprocal arrangement to my
visit to the U.S. last August. It is also Secretary Hagel 's first
visit to China since he took office. The
Chinese side takes Secretary Hagel's visit seriously and have made a thoughtful
preparation and arrangements.
First, high-level meeting is arranged in his program. Second, we arranged a visit to the carrier for Secretary Hagel , making
him the first
foreign military leader to be onboard of Chinese aircraft carrier. Third, on Secretary Hagel 's
request, we will arrange a visit to the non-commissioned officers’ school where Secretary Hagel will talk
with the students, face to face, have lunch together and relieve his moments as
an NCO.
Here he will have reached a colorful
schedule with those NCO students. Just
now, Secretary Hagel
and I had a small scale and large scale discussions. The two sides exchanged ideas on state-to-state and military-to-military relations. International and regional issues, and the
topics of common interest, in a candid, friendly and a constructive
environment.
Together we have made a positive
achievement and important consensus.
First, both sides agreed to seriously
implement the important consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and President Obama on
developing China-U.S. state-to-state and military-to-military relations, and work
together to push forward the sound and the state of development of the new model of China-U.S. military-to-military relationship.
Second, both sides agreed to positively
advance the process of establishing a military notification mechanism of major military activities and to the
standards of behavior for air and sea military safety on high seas, in an
effort to make substantive progress at an early stage.
Third, both sides positively evaluate
the good momentum of current development of China-U.S. mil-to-mil relations. Both sides agree to further strengthen
exchanges and constantly expand areas for practical cooperation.
Both sides agree to establish an institutional
army-to-army dialogue for exchanges and cooperation and promote the
army-to-army cooperation in an orderly way.
Fourth, both sides believe that
international terrorism is the common challenge to peace and stability in the
region and globally. Both sides
discussed related cooperation in the area of counterterrorism.
Fifth, both sides affirm to further
strengthen cooperation on international and regional issues in order to achieve
positive interaction in Asia-Pacific region, working together to maintain peace
and stability in Asia-Pacific region.
Sixth, both sides agree to convene,
within this year, an Asia-Pacific security dialogue to further
exchange ideas on military-to-military relations and issues of common interest.
Seventh, both sides agreed to conduct land-based
joint medical cooperative exercise after Rim Pacific 2014. We look forward to a successful visit by Secretary Hagel through
joint efforts from both sides.
And I stand ready to work with Secretary Hagel on the
basis of the consensus between the two sides to steadily promote the
development of the new model of China-U.S. military-to-military relations. Thank you.
MODERATOR: Thank
you General Chang . Now the floor
turns to Secretary Hagel .
Secretary, please.
U.S.-China
relationship is important for stability and security in the Asia Pacific and for
achieving prosperity for both our nations in the 21st century. And as President Obama has said, the United States welcomes
the rise of a stable, peaceful and prosperous China.
One focus of our discussion today was how we
develop a new model of military-to-military
relations, which I will
address in greater detail in a speech that I'll give this afternoon.
I explained that the U.S. believes its
approach should be to build a sustained and substantive dialogue to deepen
practical cooperation in areas of common interests and to manage competition and manage
differences through
openness and communication.
In each of these areas there is much
work still to be done, but we're making progress, strong progress.
And, as General
Chang noted, yesterday I very much
appreciated the opportunity to tour China's aircraft carrier and particularly to meet PLA personnel
aboard the ship and have an opportunity to listen to these young sailors.
And later today I'll have the
opportunity to speak to officers at the National Defense University.
And, as General
Chang noted, tomorrow I truly am
looking forward to visiting with noncommissioned officers, which, I think we
all appreciate, are the backbone of our militaries.
Exchanges like this at every level of
command are critical. They're critical
for building mutual understanding and also respect.
Our vision is a future where our militaries
can work closely together on a
range of challenges, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
However, to reach this objective we
must be very candid about issues where we disagree, while also continuing to
deepen our cooperation in areas where we do agree.
And we have many common interests and
we agree on many things. Regarding cybersecurity, I emphasized in our meetings this
morning the need for both the United States and China to be more open with each
other about our capabilities and our intentions in this critically
important domain. Greater openness about cyber
reduces the risks that misunderstanding and misperception could lead to
miscalculation. More transparency will strengthen
China-U.S. relations.
As General Chang announced, we agreed today on
several new ways to improve our military-to-military relationship. We will establish an army-to-army dialogue mechanism as an institutionalized
mechanism within the overall framework of the U.S.-China military-to-military
relationship. We agree to participate in
a joint military
medical cooperative activity. And this will build on the experiences gained
at the 2014 Rim of the Pacific exercise, a U.S-hosted,
multilateral naval exercise that China will participate in for the first time
this summer.
We'll establish an Asia-Pacific
security dialog to exchange views on a host of security issues. This dialog will build on the discussions General Chang and I had
today on regional security issues, including North Korea, and the growing
threat posed by its nuclear and missile programs.
Continued instability on Northeast
Asia is not in China's interests, it's not in the U.S. interests, it's not in
the region's interests. And the U.S. is
deeply concerned about the threat North Korea poses to our treaty allies and
increasingly to our own homeland.
The United States and China have a
shared interest in achieving a verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the
Korean Peninsula.
We also had a very good, direct, positive discussion about tensions
in the East and South China Sea.
I underscored that all parties should
refrain from provocative
actions and the use of
intimidation, coercion or aggression to advance their
claims.
Such disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance
with international law.
I thanked General
Chang and his leaders again for
their generous invitation to visit China, and for their leadership and their
partnership in working with the United States on many of these common
interests, especially as we move forward on a new model
for our military-to-military relationship.
I look forward to more progress in the
future because the China-U.S. relationship is essential, essential to
peace and security in the 21st century.
Let me also, as I end my comments and
prepare with General Chang to take questions to
acknowledge the U.S. ambassador to China, Max Baucus ,
who has been with me during my time here. And I appreciate that, but very much
appreciate his leadership and the efforts that he is making here to continue to
strengthen and deepen the China-U.S. relationship.
Thank you, Ambassador
Baucus .
MODERATOR: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Now the floor is open for questions. Please
first identify yourself before you raise your question.
Q: I'm with the
CRI, and my
question is for General Chang .
In recent days,
certain complicated factors arise in the situation surrounding China, in
particular Japan and the Philippines are stirring up troubles and violating
China's rights. General
Chang , what do you think of this
situation?
Indeed, there is someone trying to
stirring up troubles in the surrounding situations -- surrounding China. I'd like to make clear several points on this
issue.
First, since Abe
administration made a series of wrong remarks indeed-
since he took office, causing severe difficulties -- and imposing severe
impacts on regional peace and stability, causing severe difficulty in
China-Japan relations.
Japan takes reversed course of history
and confronts the right with the wrong. Moreover,
Japan insists on hotline and is provocative all the time, leading the tension
of the situation.
Thirdly, the rights of political --
(inaudible) -- is quite worrisome. This
is what should arouse the international community's high attention and
vigilance.
Furthermore, Japan still has huge amount
of nuclear material, which exceeds its practical needs. The international community should also be
alarmed against this.
Second, disguising itself as a victim, the
Philippines repeatedly
breaks the promise they made. They even submitted the
memorial to the arbitral tribunal on the South China Sea disputes between China and the
Philippines in the name of the international law.
I think they did the math in the wrong
way. The fact is that it is the
Philippines who illegally occupy part of China's islands and reefs in the South
China Sea.
China has made it clear on several
occasions that it does not accept and will not participate in the international
arbitration initiated the Philippines.
Third, China's position on South China
Sea and East China Sea issue is clear and consistent. China has indisputable sovereignty over Diaoyu Islands,
Nansha Islands, and their adjacent waters.
As to sovereignty dispute over islands
and reefs, and the sea boater delimitation issue, China stands ready to resolve the
issue through negotiation with the countries directly involved.
Fourth, I will actually reiterate that territorial sovereignty issue is China's core interest. On this issue, we will make no compromise, no
concession, no trading, not even a tiny bit of violation is allowed.
Fifth, it is the Chinese military's mission
to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and the territorial integrity. We are prepared at any time to cope with all kinds of
threats and challenges. Upon the request
of the party and the people, the Chinese
military can assemble as soon summoned, fight immediately upon arrival and win
any battle, as long as they fight. Thank you.
MODERATOR: First question from the
American delegation will be (inaudible) from Reuters.
Q: Thank you. For Secretary Hagel, were you assured during
your talks with your Chinese counterparts that China has no intentions of
creating a air defense zone in the South China Sea? And can I get your thoughts on what was just
said about the territorial disputes there? And for Mr. Chang, has a senior U.S. Naval
intelligence officer has said he believes that after preserving China's mission
action 2013, military exercises, that the PLA was training its forces to be capable of carrying out a sharp war with Japan in the
East China Sea. Is this correct and, if so, how seriously do
you take U.S. assurances that it would come to Japan's defense if a dispute
moved to conflict? Thank you.
SEC. HAGEL: Let me begin with the ADIZ question. The United States has been very clear on
this issue and that is that first, every nation has a right to establish air
defense zones, but not a
right to do it unilaterally with no collaboration, no consultation. That adds to tensions, misunderstandings, and
could eventually add to and eventually get to dangerous conflict.
On the issue of the disputes in the
East and South China Sea, again, the United States has been very clear on this -- our position in this
situation. And we did talk about this in
the meetings this morning.
The United States takes no position
on individual claims. The United States has been very clear, direct
and firm on how these disputes should be resolved.
They should be resolved diplomatically,
peacefully, through
international law.
Specifically on the Philippines and Japan,
the
Philippines and Japan are long-time allies of the United States. We have mutual self-defense treaties with each
of those two countries. And we are fully committed to those treaty obligations.
Thank you.
Actually, on this issue I do have
several points to make. It is Japan who
has been making provocative against China, and China has been exercising
restraint to the maximum.
If you came to the conclusion that
China is going to resort to force against Japan, that is wrong.
I would like to reiterate to that, on
our Chinese side, we will not take the initiative to stir up troubles. Second, we are not afraid of any provocation.
Thank you.
MODERATOR: Second question will come
from Gopol Ratnam from Bloomberg.
Q: The first
question to Secretary Hagel .
Yesterday, you
toured China's first aircraft carrier. And,
given what the minister's comments just now, how soon do you think China will be in a position, given its
modernization -- military modernization, to challenge U.S. supremacy in the
region?
And, for the
minister, do you see the U.S. rebalance strategy as a threat, or is it a
helpful move?
And also, if I
might ask you, are you prepared to share your cyber-security doctrine with the
United States, as the U.S. is asking you to?
Thank you.
As I quoted in my comments, President Obama 's
statement about America's strong support of China rising to a strong global,
peaceful, prosperous and responsible power, we do support that. We want that. And we will continue to work closely with the
Chinese military on their capabilities, our capabilities, where we can work
together.
Thank you.
I would like to reiterate my position.
Both China and the U.S. are important
countries in Asia-Pacific region. And
the U.S. is a country of worldwide influence. I think the Pacific Ocean is huge enough to hold both
China and the U.S. for common development, and also huge enough to hold the other
Asian-Pacific countries.
Second, China-U.S. relations is by no
means the relations between China -- between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union during the Cold War, nor is it
relation of coercion and anti-coercion. With the latest development in China, it can never be
contained.
Third, the two sides are positively
building the new model
of major country relations featuring no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and
win-win cooperation, according to the consensus reached between the two heads
of state.
This new model of major country
relationship should take shape firstly in the Asia-Pacific region. The common interests of China and U.S. in the
Asia-Pacific outweigh their differences. We respect the U.S. presence and influence in
Asia-Pacific region.
We hope that the U.S. rebalancing
strategy is helpful for safeguarding the regional peace and stability. And we also hope
that the U.S. side can respect China's interests and concerns in a dear way.
During my discussion with Secretary Hagel , we agree
that we should strengthen communication and coordination and try to manage the
crises and the risks, and work together with the regional countries to
safeguard the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Cyberspace issue is also a topic of
common interest. We talked about this
issue both in small-scale discussion as well as the larger scale discussion.
I'd like to make clear three points on
this issue. First, cyberspace is faced
with severe security threats and challenge. All the countries in the world should make
good use of the cyberspace and protect it. On cyberspace, China adheres to the principle
of peace, security, openness, and cooperation.
The defense activity of the PLA in
cyberspace abides by the domestic law and the universally recognized law. It will not pose a threat to others.
Third, the two militaries maintained in
contact on this issue. Both China and
the U.S. have extensive common interests in cyberspace, and the two militaries
have conducted productive and candid dialog on this issue.
Both sides should earnestly implement
the important consensus between the two heads of state and strengthen
communication under the framework of strategic security dialog, prevent any
military highly risky activity or miscalculation.
The Chinese side takes note of Secretary Hagel 's
statement that the U.S. does not seek the militarization of cyberspace. It is quite important to maintain the peaceful
nature of the cyberspace, and the Chinese side stands ready to deepen the
communication with the U.S. side and together, to transfer this vision into
policy and concrete actions.
Thank you.
MODERATOR: Now the last question, Sohoyu Venki .
Q (through
translator): I'm with CCTV.
We learned that
this morning at Beijing local time, the U.S. House of Representatives
passed the confirmation about importance of Taiwan
Relations Act, and the view
of naval vessels transferred to Taiwan.
My question is
for Secretary Hagel .
What influence will such actions have on
your visit here? And additional -- in
addition, we noticed that during your visit in Japan, you expressed that Diaoyu
islands fall under the U.S.-Japan security treaty and the United States
welcomes Japan to loosen the limit on the right of collective self-defense.
We believe such actions do not fit in the atmosphere of Secretary Hagel 's
visit here. My question is both for --
for both Secretary Hagel and Secretary -- and General Chang. What's your comment on the current China-U.S.
mil-to-mil relationship and its development in the future?
SEC. HAGEL: The question, what is the current relationship
between our two militaries in the future?
SEC. HAGEL: Well, let me begin with the last part of your
question. I think it's pretty clear, what I've said this morning,
what General Chang has said this morning, about we both agree and we're working
on this, to establish a new model
military-to-military working relationship.
As you all know, this came out of
conversations that President Xi and President Obama had. So, we are going to work together. We laid out, I believe, General Chang, eight
specific areas where we are going to go forward and cooperate. There will be more.
As to your question on Taiwan, you know that the United States has had a one-China
policy since 1979 based on
three communiqués. That has not changed. It's still the same.
The relationship we have with Taiwan in
selling arms to Taiwan are self-defense armaments. Nothing has changed since 1979. We still have the same policy that we've been
committed to since that time.
On Japan, Japan is a sovereign nation. It's a democracy. It will review its constitution and make its own
decisions. As a democracy does and
should, has the right to do.
We think the review of that self-defense
aspect of their constitution is right. It's
important. All great powers -- Japan is
a great power, as is China, as is the United States, have responsibilities. They have responsibilities to, yes, assure
their own security, but also to play a bigger role in their regions and the world, in a
responsible way.
So, yes, we support that review. But that's a decision the Japanese people will
make.
The U.S. arms sales to Taiwan is in serious
violation of the three U.S.-China joint communiqués, especially the principles of the
August the 17th communiqué, which is a severe intervention into China's
domestic affairs.
We urge the U.S. Congress to stop
advancing the approval of such an acts relating to Taiwan, and we urge the U.S.
authority to take concrete measures to prevent the congressional approval of
this -- of this act, not to undermine China-U.S. relations or interfere in the
peaceful development of cross-straits relations.
At present, China and Japan relations
is confronted with severe difficulties and Japan should take full responsibility. We hope that
the U.S. could stay vigilant against Japan's action and keep it within bounds
and not to be permissive and supportive.
As we know, President Xi pointed out
the connotation of this new model of
major country relations is no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect,
and win-win cooperation. The point is in
the globalization where our nations interests are increasingly integrated. The competition between China and the U.S. is not a
zero-sum game.
The two sides should not repeat the old
path of conflict between major powers in history. Instead, the two sides should review the
bilateral relations from a new perspective and in a new way of thinking and
work to open up a cooperative situation with win-win results.
I think no conflict and no
confrontation between China and U.S. means firstly there is no military
conflict nor military confrontation. Secretary Hagel and I are
both old soldiers who fought on the battlefields. We have a deep understanding about the atrocity of the
war. As the defense leaders, it is our
responsibility to make concrete reach out work, ensuring no conflict, and no
confrontation.
Thank you.
MODERATOR: That concludes today's press briefing. Thank you, Mr. Secretary, thank you, minister.
Thank you everybody.
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