The PLA at Home and Abroad - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

sisted of three phases—planning, operational exercise,
and post-exercise review. During the operational
exercise phase, the ships conducted an open sea surface
firing competition against targets seven to eight
nautical miles away. 80
According to two retired USN rear admirals who
observe the PLAN on a regular basis, participation in
these SAREXs is part of the PLAN’s transformation
into an “open ocean navy” (yuanhai or yuanyang haijun).
81 Rear Admiral (RADM) Pendley states that one
needs to make a distinction between participating in
a SAREX and participating in bilateral or multilateral
naval operations or exercises. Participating in a SAR-
EX has a practical value for the PLAN, particularly
in supporting their expanding operations outside of
home waters and developing the ability to work together
and communicate with other navies. Participation
in multilateral naval exercises at sea, however, is
different. These types of naval exercises are designed
to enhance interoperability and thus have the most
value for navies that intend to operate together in
actual military operations at sea. RADM Pendley believes
that the PLAN’s participation in combat-related
naval exercises, such as RIMPAC, is far less valuable
to them and probably will not greatly expand.
RADM Pendley also argues that, as the PLAN increases
its competence and operations outside home
waters, we should expect it to increase its participation
in SAREXs. RADM McVadon supports this view,
adding that it is time for the U.S. Navy and PLAN to
move beyond rather rudimentary SAREXs and undertake
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA-
DR) exercises in preparation for a cooperative effort
during an actual catastrophic event.
Foreign Observers. The PLA still carefully selects
and manages the opportunities it gives foreign officers
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