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U.S. to pursue military relationship with China: U.S. commander

ROC Central News Agency

2013/02/01 17:41:29

Taipei, Feb. 1 (CNA) The United States will pursue a "lasting relationship" with China, including on the military level, even as it continues to strengthen its commitment to U.S. partners in the Asia-Pacific region, the U.S. Pacific Command chief said Friday.

"Our (two) countries have a strong stake in regional peace and stability and an interest in building a cooperative bilateral relationship," Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, told journalists in the Asia-Pacific region in a teleconference.

Washington also hopes to advance ties with China in other areas, such as counter-terrorism, counter piracy, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, he said.

Asked about U.S. policy toward China, Locklear said "we should make sure that we have a robust dialogue" economically, politically and militarily with China as it grows into a world economic power and regional security partner.

To that end, both sides are working on a military-to-military peace summit, he said, adding that the U.S. has invited China to participate in a Pacific Rim military exercise in 2014.

Locklear said that with the U.S and China having military presences in the region, it is important that "we don't have miscalculations" and that "we understand each other."

"We're working to do that," he said.

Meanwhile, Locklear said Washington's rebalancing policy is "a strategy of cooperation and cooperation" and that the U.S. has no intention of establishing more bases in the region.

The U.S. has nearly 350,000 military personnel serving in the Asia Pacific region, a force that will continue to demonstrate America's significant commitment to its allies, he said.

Washington will also strengthen commitments to its partners in the region through multilateral channels, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the East Asia Summit, he added.

(By Elaine Hou)