U.S. and 'like-minded' partners will keep security in Asia - admiral

 

U.S. Admiral John C. Aquilino speaks during a news conference in Bangkok, Thailand, December 13, 2019. REUTERS/Panu Wongcha-um

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A partnership between the United States and "like-minded nations" will keep Asian countries secure in the face of competition from a rising China, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet said on Friday.

 

On a visit to Bangkok, Admiral John Aquilino, 56, criticised China's construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea, a vital trade waterway with rich energy resources where Beijing has disputes with five nations.

 

"We are in competition with the People's Republic of China," Aquilino told reporters.

 

"We have inherent disagreement between ideologies. When the U.S. talks about values, those are values that like minded nations share... And I believe that the strength of partnerships with those values will be what keeps the nations in the region secure."

 

Tensions are high between China and the United States in Asia's waters, where Washington says it is defending freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and Beijing accuses the United States of trying to stir trouble.

 

"I said we were in competition with China but that does not mean conflict," Aquilino said. "We will cooperate where we can and we will compete where we must."

 

Under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, some Southeast Asian nations have been concerned at a possible U.S. pullback just as China's dominance grows, but Aquilino said the United States would be in the region for years to come.

 

He cited so-called freedom of navigation operations in both the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait in which U.S. and allied warships have sailed through what China claims as its territorial waters, provoking Beijing's ire.

 

He said that in the South China Sea, China had built features in defiance of international law, that damage the environment, have a military purpose and "ultimately coerce and bully nations in the region."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-13

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And the USA has no features outside their own country of course.

No they can stay away, life is OK currently.

18 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

And the USA has no features outside their own country of course.

Correct...but I do not think they are claimed as sovereign territory of the US. No difference?

3 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Correct...but I do not think they are claimed as sovereign territory of the US. No difference?

No, they just overthrow the government, put a friend in place and take the oil and minerals.

4 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

No, they just overthrow the government, put a friend in place and take the oil and minerals.

To a certain extent true. But someone has to stand up to the PRC, and who else?

31 minutes ago, stevenl said:

To a certain extent true. But someone has to stand up to the PRC, and who else?

Maybe the freedom-loving people of Hong Kong, the Uighurs, and the Tibetans.

Give them the support - material and moral - that they need and stop provoking another world war and possible nuclear confrontation.

 

33 minutes ago, DaddyWarbucks said:

Maybe the freedom-loving people of Hong Kong, the Uighurs, and the Tibetans.

Give them the support - material and moral - that they need and stop provoking another world war and possible nuclear confrontation.

 

Sure, that'll chase the Chinese away.

22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

"We have inherent disagreement between ideologies. When the U.S. talks about values, those are values that like minded nations share... And I believe that the strength of partnerships with those values will be what keeps the nations in the region secure."

 

Well, that leaves one centrally located SE Asian nation out of the group.

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

Sure, that'll chase the Chinese away.

No, of course not.                                                            That's not an option for any group involved, including the American military.

Positive change is what's needed, not an armed conflict between superpowers.

32 minutes ago, DaddyWarbucks said:

No, of course not.                                                            That's not an option for any group involved, including the American military.

Positive change is what's needed, not an armed conflict between superpowers.

Agree with that. But your suggestion 'support the oppressed groups morally and practically' will not achieve anything.

 

Plus 'material support' is rather vague. Do you mean m16's and bazookas or food and housing?