China spying on military exercises

By Ryan Browne

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) enters Pearl Harbor in preparation for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018. Twenty-five nations, more than 45 ships and submarines, about 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 27 to Aug. 2 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

Washington -- A Chinese spy ship is currently spying on a major US-led military exercise off the coast of Hawaii, the same exercise it was disinvited from due to US opposition to Beijing's militarization of features in the South China Sea.
"The US Pacific Fleet has been monitoring a Chinese navy surveillance ship operating in the vicinity of Hawaii outside US territorial seas," US Navy Capt. Charles Brown, a spokesman for US Pacific Fleet, said in a statement. 

"We expect this ship will remain outside of US territorial seas and not operate in a manner that disrupts the ongoing Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise."
China was disinvited from the exercise, known as RIMPAC, in May over what the Pentagon called China's "continued militarization of disputed features in the South China Sea," including the deployment of anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missile systems and electronic jammers.
The spy ship arrived in the waters off Hawaii on July 11, and it has not entered the territorial seas of the United States, a US military official told CNN.
The Chinese ship's presence was also criticized by the exercise's combined forces maritime component commander, Chilean Commodore Pablo Nieman.
"It is very disappointing that the presence of a non-participating ship could disrupt the exercise," Nieman said in a statement. 

"I hope and expect all seafarers to act professionally so we may continue to focus on the work at hand and building on the spirit of cooperation that gives purpose to this exercise."
A military official told CNN that a similar Russian spy ship was in the same area the last time RIMPAC took place in 2016. 

China participated in the exercise that year.
China also sent spy ships, known as Auxiliary General Intelligence vessels, to monitor the exercise in 2014 and 2016.
Twenty-six countries, 47 ships, five submarines and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel were scheduled to participate in the exercise, according to the US Navy.

With eye on China, New Zealand buys US anti-submarine jets

• $1.6 billion purchase of US military aircraft announced
• New Zealand seeking to help counter China's buildup in South China Sea

By Brad Lendon

New Zealand announced a $1.6 billion purchase of US military aircraft on Monday as it seeks to integrate its forces with US and Australian allies that are trying to counter a Chinese military buildup in the Pacific.
The purchase of the four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft "strengthens the coalition Government's Pacific Reset by providing a maritime patrol capability with the significant range and endurance needed to assist our partners in the region," a statement from New Zealand Defense Minister Ron Mark said.
New Zealand's announcement comes on the heels of the release Friday of its Strategic Defense Policy Statement for 2018. 

In it, New Zealand warns of China's increasing influence in the Pacific, including its expanded military presence in the South China Sea, where Beijing is fortifying islands near some of the world's key shipping lanes.
The 40-page document says China is challenging the existing order in the region while also increasing its involvement and investment in Pacific island nations where New Zealand's influence has long held sway.
New Chinese policy priorities could potentially damage "human rights, arms control and non-proliferation efforts," it says.
Meanwhile, Australia and the US are trying to reinforce regional peace and stability with a focus on "maritime security and freedom of navigation," the document says.

Meshing with allies
Mark noted that he twin-engine P-8As, which can be used for submarine hunting as well as intelligence gathering and surveillance, are also in the inventories of the US, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Those nations, along with New Zealand and Canada, are part of the so-called Five Eyes alliance, which shares intelligence gained from spying activities.
"Maintaining a maritime patrol capability is essential for New Zealand's national security, and for our ability to contribute to global security efforts," Mark's statement said.
China on Monday blasted the "groundless accusations" in the New Zealand defense paper.

Responsible international citizens
Speaking at a news conference Monday announcing the P-8A deal, New Zealand's acting prime minister, Winston Peters, brushed off Chinese complaints about the defense policy statement.
"We're not here to make people happy. We're here to be responsible international citizens doing our best to preserve the neighborhood in which we live and to preserve our sovereignty," said Peters, New Zealand's foreign minister who is running the government while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is on maternity leave.
Monday's aircraft purchase and New Zealand's rationale for it were good news for Washington, which has been busy trying to strengthen its Pacific alliances in the face of what it sees as an increased Chinese threat.
New Zealand naval forces this month are participating in the US Navy's RIMPAC exercises, the world's largest naval drills.
Among the other nations in the Hawaii-headquartered war games are Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines, which all have claims in the South China Sea.
China was disinvited from the US-led exercises over its militarization of the South China Sea islands.
New Zealand, meanwhile, was given an expanded role in the 25-nation RIMPAC, serving as sea combat commander for the first time in 26 editions of the biennial war games.
Among the hardware New Zealand sent to RIMPAC are two P-3 Orion aircraft, the planes the P-8As will be replacing.
New Zealand expects the P-8As, which are based on Boeing's 737 airliner, to enter service in 2023.
Mark, the defense minister, said New Zealand would also be looking to acquire other smaller surveillance aircraft, including drones, to work in areas close to the island nation.
"This will free up the new P-8A fleet to fly more missions, in the South Pacific and further afield," he said.