US dismisses notion its rebalancing strategy is targeted at China | WPN World People News

The US has dismissed a commonly held notion that its rebalancing strategy and a planned significant presence in Asia-Pacific region was targeted against China or any other country.

Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, who is travelling to India amid a regional security bloc meeting in Beijing, has clearly remarked that US' defence strategy in Asia-Pacific region is not targeted against any country, according to the Pentagon.

"The (Defence) secretary has made it clear on his trip that the defense strategy, which includes a rebalancing and more focus on the Asia-Pacific region, is not targeted at any one country in that region, but rather the region as a whole," Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain John Kirby told reporters.

"We have significant security interests in the Asia-Pacific, significant security commitments to allies and partners in the region. It's not aimed at rebuffing or trying to limit the growth and development of any one country."

The concerns have surfaced with the US planning to move the bulk of its naval fleet including as many as six aircraft carriers to the Pacific by 2020 as part of new strategic focus on Asia, in a strategic shift from Europe.

In reply to a question about Chinese concerns, Kirby said Panetta has made it clear that the peaceful, prosperous rise of China is a "good thing", not just for that region, but also for the world.

"As for the timeliness, I think we would all agree that the defense strategy as written and as endorsed by not only this department, but by the President (Barack Obama), is absolutely timely. This is the right time to be looking at the Asia-Pacific region to renew our commitments there and to rebalance our resources and our attention there.

Source: United States News.Net