CHINA / National
US Pacific fleet commander tours China
(AP)
Updated: 2006-11-14 06:47
The commander of the US Pacific Fleet Adm. Gary Roughead [C] speaks to
the media in Beijing, China, Monday, November 13, 2006. Adm. Roughead
began a visit to China on Monday in a trip aimed at strengthening ties
between the two navies and gaining insight into the Asian power's
military buildup. A man at right and woman at left are not identified.
[AP]
BEIJING - The commander of the US Pacific Fleet began a visit to China on
Monday in a trip aimed at strengthening ties between the two navies and
gaining insight into the Asian power's military buildup.
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Adm. Gary Roughead was scheduled to meet with China's military officials
and help plan a November 19 search-and-rescue exercise, the second half
of a two-part operation that began in the United States.
"The thrust of our discussions will really be in how our navies can gain
a better understanding of one another," said Roughead, who was visiting
China the first time since taking the post.
He also told reporters he "really would like to know what the intent is
in some of the developments" he's seen in the navy of the 2.3 million
strong People's Liberation Army, the world's largest.
Those include an expanding submarine fleet and procurement of ships that
can operate far beyond China's shores, he said.
"I look forward to having discussions on what the vision is and perhaps
what some of the operating doctrine might be," Roughead said.
In the past, Beijing has spent heavily on adding submarines, jet fighters
and other high-tech weapons to its arsenal, which despite its size, lags
well behind those of other major nations.
Its reported 2006 budget is $35.3 billion, compared with $532.8 billion
in defense spending signed by President Bush for 2007.
Visits between the Chinese and American militaries dropped off after the
collision of a US spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet off China's coast
in 2001.
Relations have been improving recently as US leaders cautiously seek to
increase exchanges and better understand China's rapidly modernizing
military.
The top U.S. Pacific commander, Adm. William Fallon, has visited China
three times since taking office about 18 months ago to boost contacts and
reduce the potential for miscalculations.
In September, two Chinese navy ships stopped in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii,
then on to San Diego for the first part of the search-and-rescue exercise
that will end this week in southern China.
The November 19 mission off the island province of Hainan is still being
planned, Roughead said. It will involve 400 Navy personnel from the USS
Juneau.
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