Chinese Aspects of Singapore's IMDEX Naval Technology Show

rom May 15 to 18 Singapore hosted its bi-annual IMDEX naval technology show. One of this show�s highlights was the participation, for the second time since 2003, of a warship from China�s People�s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), to join the show�s Tour of Warships. This visit also served to symbolize China�s enhanced effort in recent years to complement its already decisive economic and political engagement of Southeast Asia with growing military engagement. In particular, China is for the first time in many years making a serious push to sell arms to its Southeast Asian neighbors, to parallel its strategic dialogues through ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Forum (ARF), its vigorous military diplomacy, and a more recent initiatives to undertake multilateral military exercises with ASEAN members.

Key to China�s ability to pursue deeper regional military engagement is its growing naval combat capability. For example, IMDEX saw the disclosure of new information regarding China�s ambitions to build a large amphibious forced projection capability based on LPD and LHD platforms could perform humanitarian as well as military missions.

April 11, 2001
SENATOR THOMPSON’S STATEMENT ON FUTURE OF U.S. RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) today issued the following statement regarding the future of the United States’ relationship with the Peoples’ Republic of China in light of their detention of 24 U.S. servicemen and women for 11 days:

“Hopefully, this will cause us to step back and take a realistic look at our relationship with China in a way that should have been done before this incident.

“Our policies in the past have led the Chinese to believe that we are so dependent on our trade relationship that there are no consequences for their bad behavior.

“Clearly, there has to be consequences for their unlawful detaining of our crew and for such things as their continued proliferation activities. Their actions are making the world a more dangerous place.

“And we have to look at our export policies. The Senate is going to be debating the Export Administration Act, which involves sensitive high tech equipment going to China. That’s going to be a contentious debate. It’s about balancing trade and national security.”

http://web.archive.org/web/20020822205408/thompson.senate.gov/press/2001/releases/pr041101.html
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Senator Thompson to Represent U.S. at Asian Conference on Security Issues

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) will represent the United States this week at an International conference on Asian Security Issues. Organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), “Asia Security Conference: The Shangri-La Dialogue” will bring together fifteen defense ministers from Asia-Pacific countries, United States and European defense officials, and leading independent analysts.

Among those participating in the May 31-June 2 conference in Singapore will be U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, British Defense Secretary Geoffrey Hoon, Chinese Director of Foreign Affairs Zhan Maohai, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, and India Minister of Defense George Fernandez.

Issues that the conference will focus on include managing terrorist threats in Southeast Asia, non-proliferation challenges in Asia, United States’ strategy in the region, Europe’s role in Asian security, and China’s military doctrine and security.

“This will be an opportunity for us to reiterate our support for our allies in the Asia-Pacific region who are helping in the war on terrorism and to share ideas about the future of that effort,” Senator Thompson said.

Thompson will be attending the conference with a bi-partisan Congressional delegation including Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Jack Reed (D-RI), as well as Representatives Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Vic Snyder (D-AR), and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA).

Thompson, the senior Republican on the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of the Intelligence Committee, has been a leader on national security issues and addressing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

http://web.archive.org/web/20021229093017/thompson.senate.gov/press/2002/releases/pr052902.html
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Senator Thompson believes that the United States has a unique role in the world given our economic prosperity, military power, and the strength of our principles, democratic ideals, and values. He believes the United States should be active in promoting the concepts of free trade and open markets, holding other countries responsible for their actions and affairs, yet acting firmly and clearly where our national interests and values are at stake.

As Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Thompson held more than a dozen hearings on important national security issues, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons) and missile technology and the relaxation of export controls and sensitive “dual use” items.

Last year, he introduced the China Nonproliferation Act, which confronts proliferation by “key supplier” countries like China and Russia to rogue nations like Iran, Iraq, and Libya. This is a dangerous problem that threatens our nation’s security and important interests. The bill requires an annual review of these countries’ proliferation activities, establishes clear standards, reasonable penalties, adequate presidential waivers, congressional oversight, and much-needed transparency.

In September, Thompson was successful in bringing the measure to the floor during the debate on Permanent Normal Trade Status for China. The debate on the Thompson amendment provided the Senator with a valuable opportunity to bring the proliferation issue to the forefront and highlight the problem for his colleagues and the nation. In the coming year, Thompson will continue his efforts to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

http://web.archive.org/web/20021006205335/thompson.senate.gov/text/record.html

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