PACAF hosts China People's Liberation Army

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Tracey Saiki
  • PACAF/PA
HICKAM AFB, Hawaii --  A delegation of 30 mid-grade commanders and a major general from the China's People's Liberation Army were hosted by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces on Nov. 3.

An equal number of HQ PACAF Airmen greeted the PLA officers upon their arrival at a Hickam C-17 static display for a tour followed by a detailed mission brief in the squadron's auditorium. Through U.S. and PLA translators, an open questions and answers forum stimulated the U.S. and China militaries to further understand each others mission, training capabilities and infrastructure.

"The U.S. and China have mutual security interests. This was an important mid-grade officer military-to-military engagement building a better understanding and trust between the PLA and the U.S. military," said Brigadier General David "Tanker" Snyder, Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Lessons Learned at HQ PACAF. "Our discussions were very open and frank and covered several strategic issues of interest to both countries. I am very honored to have been a part of this significant step towards enhancing cooperation between our two militaries."

Some of the topics discussed were pilot training, pilot recruiting and retention, civil engineering support, air traffic control, joint/combined training exercises, women's role, leadership, safety measures, cyberspace and cybersecurity, force protection, airfield security and quality of life.

This was the third PLA officers visit to U.S. Pacific Command in the last year. U.S. mid-grade commanders visited the People's Republic of China in March 2006. Hickam AFB was the last stop during a week-long visit to military installations in California and Hawaii.