ANNUAL REPORT

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The PLA Participates in RIMPAC 2016 Exercise
Despite opposition from some U.S. defense analysts and members
of Congress,* the United States invited China to participate in its
biennial RIMPAC exercise for the second time in a row. Already
the world’s largest naval exercise, this year’s exercise expanded in
size to involve 26 countries (compared to 22 in the previous
iteration). The PLA Navy slightly increased its delegation from four
to five ships compared to RIMPAC 2014—including a submarine
rescue ship for the first time—and increased its number of participating
personnel from 1,100 to 1,200. 277 Before the exercise, the
PLA Navy task force participated in a group sail † from waters
near Guam to Hawaii, where the exercise was staged, with several
U.S. destroyers. 278 During the exercise, the PLA Navy participated
in HA/DR, submarine rescue, maritime blockade, and antipiracy
drills, but was restricted by U.S. law, per the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2000, 279 from engaging in combat
drills related to surface warfare, air and missile defense, and amphibious
operations. 280
China and Russia Conduct South China Sea Naval Exercise
In September, China and Russia conducted an eight-day-long
naval exercise, Joint Sea-2016—their first exercise together in the
South China Sea—with five Russian ships and ten PLA Navy ships
participating, including surface combatants and support ships from
both countries, as well as Chinese submarines. 281 According to analysts
Peter W. Singer and Jeffrey Lin, the Chinese task group comprised
‘‘some of China’s most modern warships,’’ including a Type
052C (LUYANG II) destroyer, a Type 052B (LUYANG I) destroyer,
and three Type 054A (JIANGKAI II) frigates; 282 the Russian task
group included two 1980s-vintage UDALOY I destroyers. 283 The
Russian contingent also included two helicopters, amphibious assault
craft, and 90 marines; the Chinese contingent included 11
fixed-wing aircraft, eight helicopters, and 160 marines. The exercise,
which has been held annually since 2012, was based in
Zhanjiang, a city in southern China’s Guangdong Province and the
headquarters of the PLA Navy South Sea Fleet. 284 According to
Chinese state-run media, it was held in undisputed waters to the
east of Zhanjiang. 285 It focused on ‘‘island-seizing,’’ among other
drills covering amphibious operations, air defense, anti-submarine
warfare, and search and rescue; 2015’s Joint Sea-2015 II drill in
the Sea of Japan also emphasized forced incursions and island
landing. 286 This is the first time the PLA has conducted a naval
exercise in the South China Sea with another country. Beijing has
long argued that outside countries should not ‘‘meddle’’ in the
South China Sea dispute. 287
* Much of the opposition was related to China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea. Notably,
in May 2015, senators Jack Reed and John McCain, the bipartisan leadership of the Senate
Armed Services Committee, co-authored a letter to the Obama Administration expressing
their opposition to inviting China to RIMPAC. Shirley Kan, ‘‘Rescind China’s Invitation to Join
RIMPAC,’’ PacNet #35 (Center for Strategic and International Studies), April 15, 2016; USNI
News, ‘‘Document: McCain, Reed Letter to SECDEF Carter on Chinese Actions in South China
Sea,’’ May 22, 2015.
† According to the U.S. Navy, the group sail ‘‘offers participating units the chance to operate
together and conduct basic training-like tactical maneuvering drills and communication system
checks. [It] helps prepare participating units for the more complex exercises conducted during
RIMPAC.’’ Commander Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, International Ships Sail to Hawaii
for Rim of the Pacific 2016, June 24, 2016.
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