China has a central role to play in contributing to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and Australia welcomes those contributions, says Australia's defense chief.
The increasingly mature defense relationship was a key component of Australia's commitment to a constructive and cooperative relationship with China, Chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.
"Through our defence relationship we seek to enhance mutual understanding and build cooperation. In recent years, we have worked to enhance our defence engagement and cooperation with China through senior-level dialogue, working level exchanges, strategic policy discourse, practical exercises, maritime engagement and peacekeeping," Binskin said.
That included working with the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to enhance mutual understanding, build trust, facilitate transparency and deepen defense cooperation throughout the region, he said by e-mail.
Cooperation in the search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, which disappeared in the southern Indian Ocean in March, had reinforced the tangible benefits of practical defense engagement.
"It was an example of Australia and China working together on an issue of regional and global interest. The PLA contributed two IL-76 air transport aircraft and seven ships to assist in the search, making a highly valued and significant contribution to the search effort along with other contributing nations," said Binskin.
Australia had also welcomed Chinese participation in the United States-led maritime exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) this year, when the PLA Navy operated as part of a multilateral contingent to the exercise, alongside the Royal Australian Navy and the navies of other Pacific Rim countries.
A further example of Australia and China working together to promote regional cooperation and stability was China's participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus Expert Working Group on Maritime Security exercise.
This was conducted off the coast of southeastern Australia in September 2013 immediately prior to China's participation in the Royal Australian Navy's International Fleet Review in Sydney in 2013.
Future exchanges and cooperation would be developed according to progress in high-level contacts such as Australian Defence Minister David Johnston's positive talks Fan Changlong, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission in Beijing in October.
Binskin said he had also recently visited China for the 17th annual Australia-China Defence Strategic Dialogue hosted by Chief of the PLA General Staff Department General Fang Fenghui.
"The Dialogue is the strategic cornerstone of our defence engagement with China and provides a forum for frank and open conversations on areas of common interest," said Binskin.
"The Dialogue also provided the opportunity for Australia and China to review defence engagement over 2014 and agree to a program of defence engagement for 2015," he said.
"Engagement between the Department of Defence and the PLA in 2015 will include a comprehensive program of strategic dialogue, service engagement, practical cooperation activities, personnel exchanges and training and education opportunities."
Australia was pleased with the positive momentum in the bilateral defence relationship based on shared interests in prosperity and security.
"This year has witnessed extensive two-way senior visits and dialogue which promotes transparency and frank communication on regional and strategic issues of mutual interest," he said.
"The Minister for Defence, the Secretary of the Department of Defence, the Chief of the Defence Force and all three Australia service Chiefs have visited China. Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission General Fan Changlong, Political Commissar of the Second Artillery Force General Zhang Haiyan and Commander of Beijing Military Region Lieutenant General Zhang Shibo visited Australia this year, among others," said Binskin.
"The growing maturity of our practical engagement was demonstrated earlier this year when two ADF medical officers were attached to the PLA-Navy hospital ship Peace Ark and worked closely with their PLA colleagues to provide medical support during the Peace Ark's medical assistance mission to Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
"Working together with the PLA during the mission again demonstrated how defence cooperation between Australia and China can contribute to regional security and be of real practical assistance to regional partners."
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