U.S.-China talks mark new role

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By Richard Halloran

HONOLULU | The U.S. Pacific Command has opened a new channel of communications with the People´s Liberation Army of China — a diplomatic liaison with senior noncommissioned officers.

The exchange comes at a time of deteriorating U.S.-Russia military relations but was planned months ago. U.S. officials are loath to imply any connection between the two developments.

The Sino-U.S. exchange marked the first use of noncommissioned officers in a diplomatic role, said Chief Master Sgt. James Roy of the Air Force.

Sgt. Roy led the delegation of 16 senior NCOs to China and is preparing to receive a Chinese delegation in a reciprocal visit to U.S. forces in Hawaii this fall.

"We went to understand them better and to have them understand us," he said in an interview.

"We did not go to help them to build capacity."

U.S. military officials said the effort has two goals: to deter China from confronting the U.S. with armed force and to reassure the Chinese that the U.S. is not seeking to contain their nation.

NCOs — enlisted service members who rise through the ranks — are responsible for the day-to-day care, feeding, training and work of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen. Like foremen, they are charged with getting work accomplished and are considered the backbone of the U.S. armed forces.

U.S. military exchanges with China have been criticized by neoconservatives and others who warn that China uses the visits to upgrade its forces.

As a result, Sino-U.S. military relations have traveled a bumpy road for years.