US military leader: China's army still secretive

[AnGrz_Z_K_Jailer]

The top US military commander in the Pacific has lamented the continuing secrecy of the Chinese army.

By Malcolm Moore in Shanghai
Published: 5:52PM BST 02 Oct 2009

Admiral Timothy Keating said the closed lines of communication between China and the rest of the world could increase the risk of a serious military incident.

Last month, Adml Keating reached out to China's leaders, offering the prospect of joint military exercises between the US and China. "We are anxious to engage with them at the earliest opportunity," he said. "We want to understand much better than we do now China's intentions".

"We're watching them," said Adml Keating. "We're paying close attention. But I don't view China as a threat. We don't want them to view us as a threat."

It seems, however, that his proposals for greater openness have been met with a cool response. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said the only time that lines of communication were open with the Chinese were in dealing with disaster relief.

"I don't know that I'd be able to get hold of [them] in the same fashion in a very timely manner if there was some conflict [we] could perhaps address and forestall unpleasantries that might follow," he said.

"I don't have their [senior Chinese military officials'] phone number.

I can't pick up the phone and wish them happy birthday," he said. "I don't mean to be glib about it...[But] we don't enjoy the sort of communication that I have with almost every other military leader in Asia."

Adml Keating spoke as China paraded its military strength in Beijing in a celebration of 60 years of Communist Party rule. Tens of thousands of soldiers marched through Tiananmen Square, followed by a range of tanks and nuclear missiles, and a fly-by by Chinese jet fighters.

The US command of the Pacific is being eroded by an increasingly assertive Chinese navy, especially around the Taiwan Strait. In recent months there have been a range of incidents involving US spy ships tracking Chinese nuclear submarines.

Adml Keating stood firm on US surveillance, however, saying: "Whether we do [reduce surveillance activities] or not will be our decision . .

. [and] not due to any pressure from China."

Link : US military leader: China's army still secretive - Telegraph

 

[kungpaochicken]

The top US military commander in the Pacific has lamented the continuing secrecy of the Chinese army.

By Malcolm Moore in Shanghai
Published: 5:52PM BST 02 Oct 2009

Admiral Timothy Keating said the closed lines of communication between China and the rest of the world could increase the risk of a serious military incident.

Last month, Adml Keating reached out to China's leaders, offering the prospect of joint military exercises between the US and China. "We are anxious to engage with them at the earliest opportunity," he said. "We want to understand much better than we do now China's intentions".

"We're watching them," said Adml Keating. "We're paying close attention. But I don't view China as a threat. We don't want them to view us as a threat."

It seems, however, that his proposals for greater openness have been met with a cool response. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said the only time that lines of communication were open with the Chinese were in dealing with disaster relief.

"I don't know that I'd be able to get hold of [them] in the same fashion in a very timely manner if there was some conflict [we] could perhaps address and forestall unpleasantries that might follow," he said.

"I don't have their [senior Chinese military officials'] phone number.

I can't pick up the phone and wish them happy birthday," he said. "I don't mean to be glib about it...[But] we don't enjoy the sort of communication that I have with almost every other military leader in Asia."

Adml Keating spoke as China paraded its military strength in Beijing in a celebration of 60 years of Communist Party rule. Tens of thousands of soldiers marched through Tiananmen Square, followed by a range of tanks and nuclear missiles, and a fly-by by Chinese jet fighters.

The US command of the Pacific is being eroded by an increasingly assertive Chinese navy, especially around the Taiwan Strait. In recent months there have been a range of incidents involving US spy ships tracking Chinese nuclear submarines.

Adml Keating stood firm on US surveillance, however, saying: "Whether we do [reduce surveillance activities] or not will be our decision . .

. [and] not due to any pressure from China."

Link : US military leader: China's army still secretive - Telegraph

Only when China totally disarmed and let US army taken over the Chinese defense, will Americans stop whining like this