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SENIOR CHINESE MILITARY OFFICIAL TO VISIT DOD

= N  E  W  S      R  E  L  E  A  S  E
=
= OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
= (PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
= WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
=
= PLEASE NOTE DATE
====================================================
No. 649-00
(703)695-0192(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2000
(703)697-5737(public/industry)
SENIOR CHINESE MILITARY OFFICIAL TO VISIT DOD
        The Department of Defense announce today that Gen. Yu Yongbo, a member of the
China's Central Military Commission, the body controlling China's 2.5 million man army,
will head a delegation on a visit to the United States, Oct. 25 - Nov 4.
        As director of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Political Department (GPD),
Yu is responsible for political education, welfare and morale of PLA officers and troops.
This visit, his first to the United States, will be hosted by Under Secretary of Defense Bernard
Rostker on behalf of Secretary William S. Cohen.  Yu's visit is part of DoD's program to build
mutual confidence and trust between American and Chinese armed forces.  He will be the highest-
ranking PLA official visiting the United States this year.  China hosted Cohen this past July.
        Yu is responsible for PLA officer development, education and management.  All general
officer promotions pass through his office before being submitted to the Central Military
Commission for approval.   In addition to personnel, his portfolio includes civil-military
relations (including PLA support to domestic natural disasters), the PLA military legal system,
and a large portion of the PLA's system of educational institutions.  Yu, as the PLA's top
political commissar, is an influential individual in the PLA command structure.
        To better understand how the average American servicemember lives, Yu has asked to visit
ordinary military bases to see what support structure exists for health, welfare, morale, legal,
entertainment, and religious services.  Yu and his delegation will be visiting bases around the
United States (West Point, N.Y; Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.; Fort Jackson, S.C. and Patrick AFB,
Fla.) to view life in the services.  He will also do some sightseeing, viewing popular tourist
sites and monuments.  He will conclude his visit in Hawaii where he will visit the U.S. Pacific Command.
        Military engagement with the People's Republic of China and the PLA, managed on behalf of
the secretary of Defense by the under secretary of Defense for Policy, supports our state-to-state
relationship, which is driven by our national interests - peace, stability, economic development and
the promotion of democracy.  Such visits are designed to promote understanding and prevent
miscalculations between our two militaries.
-END-