Fort Shafter, Hawaii -- Soldiers from U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will participate in a virtual Disaster Management Exchange (DME) from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Nov. 10-12.

This is the 16th iteration of this exchange between the PLA and USARPAC.

The DME will consist of an expert academic discussion focused on an international humanitarian assistance/disaster relief scenario.

The DME is an annual USARPAC defense exchange with the PLA that began in 2005 to help integrate the U.S. and PLA into international response structures in the Indo-Pacific Region in accordance with the 2014 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Standard Operating Procedure to allow for a more effective multi-national disaster response. It also seeks to reduce risk between U.S. and PLA forces responding to a national disaster crisis in a third country by addressing de-confliction of military forces operating in close proximity to each other.

This long-established exchange is executed to support the U.S. efforts to build a constructive, stable, and results-oriented defense relationship with the PLA.

Questions about the exchange should directed to the 8th Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs office at usarmy.shafter.8-tsc.list.8th-tsc-pao@mail.mil. or Maj. Oliver Schuster, Public Affairs Officer, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, oliver.j.schuster.mil@mail.mil.