Text/Zhang Zhaozhong
RIMPAC 2020 has finally kicked off. Beginning in 1976, the exercise was conducted every two years and was hosted in Hawaii by the Indo-Pacific Fleet's Third Fleet. What are the characteristics of this military exercise?
(Source: U.S. Third Fleet)
Short duration. Over the past month, this year is two weeks, August 17-31. Because of the epidemic, the Olympic Games for peace around the world have been cancelled, so why does the Rimpac exercise have to continue to be held? Is there an imminent need for war? The United States is really fooling around without a bottom line.
Few participating countries. RIMPAC 2020 is the largest military exercise in the world, usually twenty or thirty countries in the past, and this year 25 countries and regions were invited, but only ten countries participated: Japan + South Korea + Philippines + Singapore + Brunei + Canada + Australia + New Zealand + France and other countries.
(Source: Australian Department of Defence)
Two points: Many countries fear that the U.S.-led international military exercise will become an international conference on covid-19 infection, and the United States now has 5.5 million infections and 170,000 deaths, and they are reluctant to let Americans infect the virus again.
Then there is the fact that the United States has always been against China recently, these countries are unwilling to take sides, and recently many countries have been hiding from the United Nations voting + G7 summit + anti-China alliance formation and other issues, not keeping pace with the United States.
Less armament. In the past, military exercises usually involved more than 50 warships + more than 200 fighters + 25,000 people, which has been reduced by more than half this year.
(Source: U.S. Pacific Fleet)
In the past, the opening ceremony + closing ceremony + middle of the military exercise will hold a series of grand ceremonies at the port of Hawaii, and the warships of various countries will also arrange visits and excursions, and hold cocktail parties and receptions on the back deck to increase the friendship between the armies of various countries. Every military exercise in Hawaii is like a festival, with various ball games and various activities to stimulate consumption.
This year, warships are only allowed to dock briefly to refuel and supply, and personnel cannot go ashore. This is very interesting, this model of military exercise history has never been seen before.
(Source: Canadian Navy)
Of particular importance is the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by U.S. senators on July 23, which specifically stipulates that RimpacIa 2020 proposes to invite Taiwanese troops to participate.
On August 17, 38 years ago, China and the United States signed the August 17 Communiqué, and the United States deliberately arranged to hold the opening ceremony on this day, which means that it will become a turning point in history. As a result, it was not found that Taiwan's troops and personnel participated in the military exercise, and it is not known why.
In the past, the theme of military exercises was joint operations + maritime air defense and anti-submarine warfare + maritime search and rescue + defense of sea routes, etc. This year may turn to anti-China and contain China. In the past, one or two warships had to be sacrificed in the final stage of each military exercise, and this time there must be some, and I don't know what warships to use to shoot targets.