US navy chief eyes China's 'opaque' sea power

[Lankan Ranger]

US navy chief eyes China's 'opaque' sea power

The head of the US Navy warned Wednesday of China's "opaque" intentions behind its growing naval might as it seeks to use sea power to bolster its strength on the world stage.

"The navy is growing to assure the flow of resources" to China's booming economy and is "developing very, very good capabilities," Admiral Gary Roughead, US chief of naval operations, told reporters in Paris.

"They are moving forward with a navy that is being seen more... in areas further from their homeland," he said.

"It's important to develop a cooperative relationship with the (Chinese) navy because they are somewhat opaque when it comes to intentions," he added.

"It's important that that becomes clearer not simply to us but all countries in the region and beyond."

Roughead spoke at the end of a visit to France during which he discussed cooperation with French naval leaders, with whom he oversees joint operations such as fighting Somalia-based pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

He hailed progress made by navies from various countries including China in jointly patrolling that key shipping route, where pirates have carried out numerous kidnappings, but warned it was a long-term struggle.

"Without the rule of law ashore, we'll be chasing pirates for quite a while," he said.

Roughead said he had visited the French nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle which is due to deploy in coming months to provide support for troops fighting alongside US and NATO forces against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

"The capability and the capacity that the Charles de Gaulle brings is greatly appreciated," he said.

China Defense Blog: More reactions to the "Chinese Sea Power"

 

[CardSharp]

The navy is growing to assure the flow of resources" to China's booming economy and is "developing very, very good capabilities," Admiral Gary Roughead, US chief of naval operations, told reporters in Paris.

I think he's got it. Flow of resources is priority mission for the PLAN blue water fleet. This will likely mean assured passage where it can be guaranteed, or physical control where necessary in areas up the South China seas (+ Spately Islands), Straits of Malacca, India ocean.

The last one (Indian ocean) may be the more significant point of conflict between India and China, more important than the Himalaya border. India has taken over British strategic thinking with regards to the Indian ocean.

On land and sea, the British sought to deny other powers easy access to the subcontinent. They set up buffer states to secure the land periphery and help defend the core; sea control ensured that all other powers were denied the means to penetrate Indian waters or to challenge any strategic sea routes. Progressively, but inescapably, India leaders since independence have assumed the mantle of the British raj

from Indian Strategic Thought: An Interpretive Essay. by George K. Tanham

How this strategy will collide with the chinese strategy remains to be seen.