US-China ties essential part of US rebalancing to Asia
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E-mail Xinhua, October 4, 2012
Building a strong and cooperative relationship with China is an essential part of the U. S. rebalancing to Asia, U.S. deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Wednesday.
"A key objective of our rebalance is to build a healthy, transparent, and sustainable U.S.-China defense relationship, one that supports a broader U.S.-China relationship," Carter said in a speech to a symposium on China held at the Woodrow Wilson Center.
Citing remarks made by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta during his visit to China two weeks ago, Carter said that "a strong and cooperative U.S.-China partnership is essential for global security and prosperity in the 21st century."
"And we seek to cooperate with China on a range of diplomatic, economic and security issues, including working closely with them to create -- build an enduring foundation for U.S.-China military- to-military relations," he said.
Carter noted that the U.S. and Chinese navies have recently held a joint counter piracy exercise in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, which "helped us to build trust."
The Pentagon official added that Panetta has also invited China to participate in the annual U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific exercise, the largest multilateral maritime drill. China was not invited to take part in this year's exercise, which was jointly held in June by 22 countries.
Carter once again denied the notion that the Obama administration's Pivot to Asia policy is aimed at containing China. "It's not about any other individual country or a group of countries. It's about a peaceful Asia-Pacific region where all countries can enjoy the benefit of security and continue to prosper," he said.
"And the steps we want to take are ones that are cooperative. We're reaching out. We're trying to do more with the Chinese military and make the Chinese military part of this security mix, which we are also an essential part of but not the only part of," he said.
In a bid to dispel the suspicion about the U.S. ability to accomplish the strategic shift at a time of economic downturn and looming massive cuts in defense spending, Carter assured the audiences that the U.S. does "have the capacity to resource the rebalance and meet our commitments."
"And I'd ask, if you don't believe us, to just watch our steps over coming months and years and you'll see us implement the rebalance," he said.
He outlined five reasons why the U.S. will be able to rebalance to the Asia Pacific region, including the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have released more military assets and resources, the investments in developing new military capabilities, the close cooperation between the U.S. and its allies and partners in the region.
On the territorial disputes that are recently flaring up in the region, Carter reiterated that the U.S. takes no position, other than ensuring the freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of the disputes.
"The big game is peace and security that allows prosperity and development. And to endanger that for small things is not in anybody's interest," he said.
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