Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    July 10, 2011

Top US Officer Urges China-US Security Cooperation

   VOA News
   US Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the
   Renmin University in Beijing, Sunday, July 10, 2011
   Photo: AP
   US Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the
   Renmin University in Beijing, Sunday, July 10, 2011

   The top U.S. military officer says Washington is deepening its
   commitment to the East Asia Pacific region, and says the United States
   and China must work together to ensure regional security.
   Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen spoke Sunday
   at the start of a four-day trip to China, as Beijing remains embroiled
   in disputes with the Philippines and Vietnam over competing territorial
   claims in the South China Sea. He told students at Beijing's
   prestigious Renmin University that the United States is and will remain
   a Pacific power and that regional challenges are too large and too
   vital to be blocked by misunderstandings between Beijing and
   Washington.
   China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all claim
   territory in the South China Sea, with most of those claims centered on
   the potentially energy rich Paracel and Spratly island chains. China's
   claim is the largest and it has issued sharp warnings in recent weeks,
   including threats of military action, to enforce its claims.
   Earlier Sunday, Mullen said his visit will include talks with his
   Chinese counterpart, Army Chief of the General Staff Chen Bingde and
   others on stalled nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea and the
   Taiwan issue.
   Mullen is also scheduled to visit two Chinese military bases this week.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

.