Generally speaking, naval ships patrolling the sea should also abide by the COLREG. However, compared to ordinary vessels, warships are unique in certain aspects. For example, warships are equipped with some special military facilities and sometimes one warship might be driven by "curiosity" to approach another one. It thus appears to be particularly important to formulate a detailed code for warships to follow, so as to reduce accidents resulting from miscalculations.

The code will further navy-to-navy exchanges between WPNS members, provide guidelines on how to effectively manage maritime crises, and help avoid incidents of interference and collisions in international waters, said Zhang Junshe, research fellow with the Naval Military Studies Research Institute of the PLA.

This new naval code of conduct is the first substantial principle reached in the history of the WPNS. After many years of discussions and debates, the consensus has reflected members' willingness to reduce miscalculations and improve management of potential dangers at sea. Officers from member countries spoke highly of CUES as an example of increasing naval cooperation between countries.

Admiral Wu described the agreement as a milestone document that is "highly significant to navies in the region in promoting communication and reducing misjudgment and misunderstanding."

There is concern among Pacific nations that a serious altercation may arise from an accident or miscommunication between the many international vessels now patrolling the Pacific.

Last December, a U.S. guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens barely missed a collision with a Chinese warship escorting the Liaoning aircraft carrier.

"With a document like this, we can avoid those incidents in the future," Admiral Greenert said in a short media interaction in Qingdao. "It's important, first of all—every country matters—so to get every country that is involved and that has a stake in the economy out here and in the security, to sit down and agree to a foundational document. It's really important. Without that foundation, you can't get started."

"The endorsement of CUES is an example where regular high-level collaborative and cooperative interactions between navies in pursuit of practical outcomes can enhance the security of global maritime commons," said Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy.

The document CUES was first proposed by New Zealand and Australia among others in the 1990s and was formally announced at the WPNS in 2000.

As an enthusiastic proponent of CUES, Australia has been working very actively over the years to get this document approved. "The CUES provides an unclassified and simple means for ships to communicate with each other using common messages. This common communications protocol will avoid confusion and as a result improve safety on the high seas. The adoption is a big step forward for all navies operating in the Western Pacific," Vice Admiral Griggs told Beijing Review.

Admiral Enrique Larrañaga Martin, Commander in Chief of the Chilean Navy, said to Beijing Review. "CUES is a big step when you are at sea. Although it's not legally binding, it's also useful for ships and navies. It's an excellent way to enhance cooperation among the ships. When on the sea, we meet ships from different countries and these procedures regulate what we have to do and how we communicate with other ships and how we work together. Here, this document marks exactly what you have to do."

"I am very happy to have the approval of the code of conduct. It will greatly contribute to the safety of navigation around this area," said Katsutoshi Kawano, Chief of Staff for Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Forces, during a short media interview in Qingdao.

Safeguarding Peace

The hosting of WPNS by the PLA Navy shows China's determination to work toward the development of harmonious maritime relationships and also the Chinese Navy's sincere desire to deepen professional communication and pragmatic cooperation with other navies.

In recent years, the Chinese Navy has actively fulfilled its international obligations. So far, 17 batches of taskforces have been sent to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia to carry out anti-piracy escort missions. The PLA Navy's hospital ship and medical teams actively became involved in disaster relief operations and aid missions in the central area hit by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines last November. Chinese naval ships are also escorting vessels in the transport of Syria's chemical weapons for destruction. In the search and rescue efforts for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 aircraft, the Chinese Navy has deployed nine ships and six helicopters.

Apart from the WPNS, the PLA Navy has been an active participant in other multilateral maritime forums including the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus Expert Working Group on Maritime Security and was recently admitted as an observer to the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.

All of the aforementioned activities provide strong evidence that the ever-growing PLA Navy is a crucial force in promoting maritime security and harmony, rather than a threat to anyone. China is actively fulfilling its role as a responsible power in the international arena.

As an important international maritime cooperation forum, WPNS offers a platform for countries bordering the Pacific to sit down and solve maritime conflicts and disputes in a peaceful manner, which also shows that the Chinese Navy is ready to coordinate with navies of other countries to jointly safeguard regional and global peace and stability.

Email us at: panxiaoqiao@bjreview.com