Analysts note the timing of the visit by the USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) an Arleigh-Burke class AEGIS guided missile destroyer, designed for multiple mission tasks in high threat areas, given other events taking place in the region.

The ship's appearance coincided with arrival of envoys in Beijing on Sept. 13 for resumption of the six-party talks hosted by China designed to eliminate North Korea's nuclear weapon ambitions. It also comes at a time of Chinese navy activity in disputed waters of the East China Sea where there is a disputed economic zone boundary between the PRC and Japan.

Arleigh-Burke class ships are deployed in high-threat areas to conduct anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface, and strike operations. The AEGIS air defense system with the SPY-1D phased array radar is designed to counter all current and projected missile threats to the Navy's battle forces.

The USS Curtis Wilbur is armed with a 90-cell Vertical Launching System capable of storing and rapidly firing a mix of Standard, Tomahawk, and Vertically Launched ASROC (VLA) missiles. It also carries Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles, a 5-inch cannon integrated with the AEGIS weapon system, plus the Phalanx Close-in Weapon System for self-defense in its armaments.

The USS Curtis Wilbur's Sept. 13-16 port visit follows in the wake of Admiral William J. Fallon, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, completing his first-ever mainland tour which included stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Fallon told reporters in Beijing a week ago that America wanted better military ties with the mainland. Fostering enhanced links serves the purpose of averting mistakes in times of crisis as well as leads to process building greater transparency to reduce mistrust and misunderstanding as China invests more financial resources from its growing economic strength to enhance its armed forces.

The dynamic of Sino-American military relations have evolved well beyond classic "gunboat diplomacy" - a term for the coercive pursuit of foreign policy objectives such as political or economic concessions through conspicuous displays of superior firepower which typically involves naval might.

China has not forgotten the historical legacy of being on the receiving end of gunboat diplomacy. Foreign warships, including American vessels, plied the China coast and penetrated major rivers inland like the Yangtze for more than a century before 1949 when the People's Republic of China was formed.

The ship was here at China's invitation and gave Chinese naval experts a chance to get a close, but not intimate, look at one small component of America's arsenal of democracy.

United Press International asked Commander John T. Lauer what the visit of his guided missile destroyer meant for bilateral military diplomacy ties as well as the implications of arriving in China for the first day of six party talks

"The Seventh Fleet has an engagement policy throughout Asia and the theater to meet with countries throughout the region. This year in our squadron of seven ships that we're a component of, we've visited 43 countries," Lauer said.

"This is an opportunity for our sailors to meet the sailors of the People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) and to enjoy and experience China. We do this routinely," he added.

The ship commander, who earned a master's degree in Foreign Affairs from the Naval War College in 1998 stated: "This visit has no substantial connection to the six party talks. That's a different thing."

Lauer stated the Curtis Wilbur "was on a standard port visit, scheduled for an opportunity for our sailors to see China, for us to get an opportunity to interact mil-to-mil with the Chinese navy and the opportunity to see the great community of Qingdao."

The commander's comments notwithstanding, this is the second time the start of six party talks have coincided with a U.S. warship visit. The last time was in February 2003 when the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), flagship of the Seventh Fleet was in Shanghai. Few East Asian security analysts see this as mere coincidence.

Chinese reporters also put keen questions to the commander of the USS Curtis Wilbur in Qingdao. One asked Lauer about the threat the PLA-N posed to the American Navy, providing a response that illustrates the thinking in U.S. strategic policy circles.

"As far as a threat, I think most people have armed forces to ensure economic stabilit! y in the region and that is why we have a United States Navy that's forward deployed," the commander said,

Lauer added, "The Chinese navy is also fulfilling their obligations to do that, so I'm not concerned personally nor do I think is the United States is. It's an issue of everybody taking care of their economic trade, and making sure there's a freedom of economic zone that exists around the world and that the seas are free."

In response to another Chinese journalist who asked Lauer if he liked the role being a warrior or an ambassador better, he said he had "to have dual hats."

"Both of those events are duties on board a ship. I'd like to think of the Navy as ambassadors, and one of our jobs is strategic engagement of friends and allies throughout the world; the other one is to protect the rights of freedom. Some days we're ambassadors and we like that job better, but when required, we will support the objectives of our government," Lauer stated.

Asked in follow-up which task the United States. had done better, Lauer said "we do both great."

Missile boat diplomacy with China not only symbolizes the projection of power, but also a desire to build greater trust and transparency. The choice of the USS Curtis Wilbur also sends a message about strength and law. The craft is named after of a former Secretary of the Navy who spent most of his career as a distinguished jurist in California.

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