Written by Tribune
The Daily Tribune
The Daily Tribune
The United States tried to soothe tensions with China with American Ambassador to Beijing Gary Locke easing China’s fears yesterday that Washington wants to hem it in by emphasizing American military presence in Asia was not targeted at a single country.
“We strongly believe — and I believe most in the region would agree — that our security presence here is beneficial to the countries of the region and necessary for the continued vitality of the Asia-Pacific,” Locke said.
China has been wary of the US policy pivot to Asia which required the rotation of its military forces among countries in the region that included the Philippines.
As likely part of this policy shift, a US Lockheed P-3C “Orion” maritime surveillance aircraft will be participating in the Philippine Navy (PN)’s naval exercise off Maasim Point, Saranggani Bay this coming Sept. 3 to 7.
As likely part of this policy shift, a US Lockheed P-3C “Orion” maritime surveillance aircraft will be participating in the Philippine Navy (PN)’s naval exercise off Maasim Point, Saranggani Bay this coming Sept. 3 to 7.
The activity, which is the second part of the the Coast Watch South Capability Exercise 2012, will involve the deployment of BRP Teotimo Figuracion (PG-389) with BRP Salvador Abcede as alternate vessel, a PN Islander aircraft, a naval boarding team, two light patrol boats, reserve units.
A fishing boat, the F/B Explorer, will serve as contact of interest. Participating also is a Coast Guard boarding team, one Philippine National Police (PNP) fast boat, a police boarding team and a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency boarding unit.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also similarly said the South Pacific was big enough for both the United States and China but added the US would remain committed to the South Pacific “for the long haul” and offered new aid.
“Our security presence is not aimed at any one country,” he said in a speech at Beijing University, noting that the United States was also boosting its diplomatic and economic engagement in the region.
Locke’s remarks came days ahead of a planned visit to Beijing by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss the two countries’ sometimes tense economic and security relationship.
Chinese state media have accused Washington of trying to contain China by befriending regional countries — a view that has been reinforced by Clinton’s decision to start her trip in the often-overlooked South Pacific.
Clinton — the first US secretary of state to attend an annual South Pacific summit — announced in the Cook Islands on Friday $32 million in aid projects.
She emphasised, however, that there was ample room for all countries — including the United States and China — to work together to help Pacific nations.
Chinese media have warned the United States against seeking to exploit recent escalations over territorial sea disputes between China and its neighbors, including Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Some countries in the region already have US military support while others seek closer security ties to counter what they call China’s growing assertiveness in the sovereignty disagreements.
Locke also stressed the importance — but also the challenge — of strengthening US-China cooperation, highlighting contentious issues such as trade relations, currency policies, Iran, Syria and human rights.
“A China that is more open to all views, ideas and expressions, will lead to a stronger and more secure China,” he said.
“We’ve got a long way to go” in US-China cooperation, he said, “but I’m hopeful that working together we can escape from historical patterns and instead forge a legacy of cooperation and partnership.”
Lt. (junior grade) Juffrey Alonzo, acting spokesman of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, said 10 local government agencies from Davao and Gen. Santos cities will also be on hand.
He added that these maneuvers were focused on simulating the actual operations of the coast watch systems and its coast watch stations in addressing maritime security in Eastern Mindanao.
The “Orion” is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner.
The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or “Mad Boom,” used for the magnetic detection of submarines.
Over the years, the aircraft has seen numerous design advancements, most notably in its electronics packages.
The P-3 Orion is still being used by numerous navies and air forces around the world, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare.
A total of 734 P-3s have been built, and by 2012, it will join the handful of military aircraft such as the Boeing B-52 “Stratofortress” which have served 50 years of continuous use with its original primary customer, in this case, the United States Navy.
The US Navy’s remaining P-3C aircraft will eventually be replaced by the Boeing P-8A Poseidon.
China also asked US politicians to cease “groundless” criticism of the country, stay out of its internal affairs and promote better relations, as the US presidential election race heats up.
“US politicians from any party should realize it is also in the interests of the US in its most basic form to treat China’s development in an objective, rational way,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement.
They should also “stop groundless criticism of China, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and do more to promote mutual trust and cooperation between China and the US with a more responsible attitude,” he added.
Hong was responding to a media query submitted seeking reaction to the just-concluded Republican National Convention and the views of the party and its presidential nominee Mitt Romney on the country.
He said China took note of the party’s position on China in its platform as well as mentions of the country in Romney’s speech accepting the party nomination, though refrained from direct criticism of either.
The comments were more measured than criticism Wednesday published in state media that blasted Romney, who is seeking to unseat President Barack Obama, for his stance on China.
“It is high time for him to drop the ‘blame-China game’ that frequently emerged on his campaign trail in the past several months,” the state-run Xinhua news agency said, cautioning that the conservative candidate’s rhetoric on issues including exchange rates could harm relations.
China was little mentioned in Romney’s acceptance speech Thursday, but he has pledged to label it a “currency manipulator” on his first day in office.
Such a move could enable retaliatory sanctions that the Obama administration declined to take in May.
The former Massachusetts governor has also pledged to impede China’s rise as a regional power in the Asia-Pacific, where the US has military alliances with Japan and South Korea.
Romney has also blasted Obama for declining to sell F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, alleging he had “caved” in to China.
Beijing sees Taiwan as a renegade province that remains part of its territory pending reunification, by force if necessary.
Hong stressed that “promoting the sustainable, healthy and stable development of China-US relations” is good for both the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large and “is the right direction to which both parties should adhere.” AFP
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