Defense Ministry underlines Asia-Pacific peace, stability
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Xinhua, February 24, 2012
China's Defense Ministry on Thursday stressed that Asia-Pacific peace and stability should be safeguarded and that China is ready to work with the United States to advance military-to-military links in a healthy and stable way.
Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said at a monthly press conference that China has always placed importance on expanding military-to-military links with the United States, referring to their relationship as one of the most important bilateral ties in the world.
The two militaries have carried out sound cooperation in multiple areas in recent years, although their ties still face certain difficulties and obstacles.
"We are ready to work with the U.S. by observing the principles of mutual respect, trust, equality and mutual benefit, to respect and take care of each other's core interests and major concerns, properly handle differences and controversial issues, cultivate strategic mutual trust and push forward China-U.S. military links in a healthy and stable way," Geng said.
During Vice President Xi Jinping's official visit to the United States last week, Xi exchanged views with U.S. leaders and military officials on bilateral and military-to-military ties, according to Geng.
"The visit was of great significance to guiding the development of relations between the two countries and the two militaries," he said.
While commenting on military drills the United States plans to conduct with some of China's neighboring countries, the spokesman said China believes that the peace and stability of the Asian-Pacific region is in the common interest of countries in the region.
A major annual drill held by the United States and the Republic of Korea known as "Key Resolve" will run from Feb. 27 to March 9. Another joint air, ground and naval field training exercise known as "Foal Eagle" will be held from March 1 to April 30.
Geng said all relevant sides should take the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula into consideration.
Maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula is in the common interest of all sides, and China will make unremitting efforts to that end, he said.
Another exercise dubbed "Cobra Gold" was recently wrapped up in east Thailand. The 10-day multinational military exercise was led by the U.S., with at least five other Asian nations, including Japan and the ROK, participating in the exercise.
China's armed forces have observed the exercise since 2002 at the invitation of Thai armed forces, Geng said, adding that China sent a four-member team to watch this year's exercise.
Countries' defense cooperation should be conducive to regional peace and stability and not target a third party, Geng said.
When asked to comment on media allegations that frequent visits to the west Pacific by vessels of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy were meant to prepare for an attack on Taiwan, Geng said the drills were "routine arrangements."
"As we have repeatedly stated, the drills were not directed at any specific target," said the spokesman.
China says no to arms race
The spokesman also addressed concerns about China's naval upgrades, saying it is "quite normal" for countries to upgrade their militaries in an era of rapidly developing technology.
"Weapons and equipment development is undertaken to maintain national security. It does not target any specific country or objective," he said.
China will not develop its military strength beyond national security demands and economic capability, and will not conduct an arms race with any country, he said.
Geng also mentioned a report by IHS Jane's, saying China's military expenditures will increase from 119.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2011 to 238.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2015.
"I don't know where the report cited those figures," Geng said.
Addressing a report issued by the Japanese National Institute for Defense Studies regarding China's navy, Geng said the report makes a "wild guess" about China's military strength and exaggerates China's military threat.
He stressed that Japan has strengthened its own military in recent years, drawing attention from the international community, especially neighboring countries.
"We hope Japan will abide by its commitment to pursue a peaceful way of development, make its military development more transparent and reflect on its military policies, instead of gossiping about others," he said.
Naval escort cooperation
Geng confirmed that China, India and Japan will step up their coordination and cooperation in international naval escort activities.
"The integrated escort schedule will be arranged on a quarterly basis," Geng said, noting that the strengthened coordination and cooperation could increase the efficiency of escort operations and better safeguard the safety of international navigation.
Geng noted that China has been playing an active role in promoting international naval escort operations and has boosted its exchanges of intelligence, as well as increased the number of joint naval escort missions and drills with relevant countries and organizations.
According to Geng, 10 Chinese navy flotillas, including 25 warships, 22 helicopters and over 8,400 officers and soldiers, have been deployed to the Gulf of Aden for escort missions since December 2008.
An international symposium on international escort missions convened Thursday in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu province, Geng added.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)