I totally agree with these military exchanges because it reduces tensions and suspicion between two countries usually viewed as rivals. Hopefully cooperation will continue to build in other areas between the US and China as well:
Servicemembers from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force demonstrate ways to secure and evacuate casualties to their Chinese Army counterparts during the Disaster Management Exchange held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Nov. 20, 2015. DOD
Army medic Sgt. Leslie Peterson hesitated to answer when a medic from the Chinese military asked a basic question about how Peterson would care for a soldier badly wounded in battle.
“Can I answer that?” Peterson asked a higher-ranking U.S. soldier.
Peterson was given a blessing to respond. Then she continued her demonstration that won applause from a couple dozen visitors at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Friday.
She was a hit with this contingent from China’s People’s Liberation Army. But her hesitation underscored the newness of an unusual military exchange at JBLM that’s connecting soldiers from two armies usually characterized as rivals.
The exchange this week brought about 80 soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army to a military base in the continental U.S. for the first time. It marked a progression in an 11-year sequence of formal exchanges between the two armies focused on preparing for natural disasters.
Leaders from both countries view disaster preparation as an area where they can cooperate and build trust, possibly reducing the likelihood of an armed conflict in East Asia. [Stars & Stripes]
