USAF-PLAAF engagement

Greetings!
I just had an article e-published by Air University. I'd appreciate your thoughts and comments.
Thanks much!
- Clayton



, an Op-Ed based on the article.

ABSTRACT:

China’s challenge to the United States--its rising economic power, military capability, and diplomatic and cultural influence--is surely one of the most important challenges facing the United States in the early 21st century. This paper recommends a US Air Force (USAF) agenda for cooperative action with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as an important part of the overall US response to the challenge of China.

First, it explores the China challenge, examining Chinese grand strategy, political and territorial fault lines, and the PLAAF itself. Then it reviews the US response to the China challenge, covering US strategic options and the “responsible stakeholder” framework--a balanced approach incorporating both containment and engagement efforts. Focusing on the engagement efforts, this paper describes the risks, benefits, and differing US and Chinese perspectives of military-to-military engagement. It then goes on to propose a comprehensive USAF agenda for cooperative action with the PLAAF, recommending program objectives, proposing specific opportunities for engagement, and offering points for planning and execution.

Prudent USAF-PLAAF engagement can play an important role in ensuring China’s role as a responsible stakeholder in the international system. This paper explains how.

I'm not Chinese and even I find the word containment insulting. Just thought I'd mention that right off the bat. Love the tone of the Op-Ed... gave me a chuckle. Pride goeth before a fall I suppose.

I propose the USAF, USN and USMC practice live air to air missions with the PLAAF with appropriate AWACS and jammer support.

Thank you Colonel for posting the article.

My comments.

"Frenemy" policy to China is not really new, and that's appears to be practically the Pentagon's policy to China. Engagement, engagement and engagement. The details of execution should be left to the pros. But you know as they say, "keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer."

Again, like virtually all "USA vs. China" papers, this one also incorrectly assumes China is challenging the USA in military/economic/political power.

The truth is, THE USA IS CHALLENGING CHINA.

It's kind of like a really good poker player sitting down at a table with a gangbanger.

The skillful poker player, being the superior player, is separating the gangbanger from his chips.

So the gangbanger takes out his pistol and sets it on the table.


I'll let you decide who is who in the analogy and what will ultimately happen.

The PLAAF is the best thing that ever happened to the USAF post-Cold War. Without the PLAAF, the USAF administration would lose one of their key cards in demanding larger budget and new toys.

US AFA: Threats to American Air Supremacy
26-May-2008 17:36 EDT

The US Air Force Association recently released a video entitled “Threats to Air Supremacy,” which offers a very basic look at emerging land and air-based threats to America’s “teen series” fighters in particular. Given the importance of air supremacy to American military doctrine, this is an issue that can be expected to become more prominent in coming years. As such, we present a Flash-based version below, without commentary, as a service to our readers.

The video can also be viewed using Windows Media Player: [High-res | Low-res]

one of these three will get you to the video

high res URL: _Supremacy.wmv

URL:

URL:

With the F22s, America is virtually guaranteed its air dominance over China.

What more does the US Airforce want? What more can it want?

daveman said:

With the F22s, America is virtually guaranteed its air dominance over China.

What more does the US Airforce want? What more can it want?

Click to expand...

One thing is that you should never stay still, you always look at what others are doing, even if you have the lead, so you can maintain the lead.

US knows that if they stop trade with China....US would hurt way more then China, China rich population is on the rise in record numbers so their own people can cover some of the trade loss, but US cannot as much.