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Gates: US Seeks to Enhance Partnerships in Asia

   Sean Maroney  June 02, 2011

   U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he is looking to build
   relationships with countries in Asia to address a wide variety of
   future challenges in the region. As the defense secretary heads to
   Asia's most prominent security conference, he said that Washington
   plans to remain a reliable partner in the region.
   Gates says he is going into the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore with
   the message that Washington will continue to build relationships with
   its allies in Asia despite potential budget restrictions.
   'I would say, if anything, these pressures put a premium on
   multilateral responses to problems," he said. "Whether it's
   humanitarian assistance or disaster relief, where we see opportunities
   with a number of countries out here, including China.'
   This year China is sending defense minister Liang Guanglie to
   Singapore, who is the most senior Chinese official to attend the annual
   security conference. Gates and Liang are expected to hold a bilateral
   meeting Friday.
   Speaking to reporters en route to the conference Thursday, Gates said
   he is very satisfied with the progress of Washington's relationship
   with Beijing, but he sees room for improvement between their two
   militaries.
   He says continued dialogue is important to that relationship,
   especially because Beijing and Washington remain at odds over U.S. arms
   sales to Taiwan.
   'Under those circumstances, there is value in a continuing dialogue by
   the two sides of just exactly what our concerns are, what our issues
   are and how we might alleviate the concerns on both sides,' he said.
   Gates said Washington remains concerned about China's military research
   projects, such as anti-ship missiles and stealth fighter aircraft.
   But he said he does not think China aims to use those projects to deny
   the United States access in the region.
   'I think the Chinese have learned a powerful lesson from the Soviet
   experience, and they do not intend to try and compete with us across
   the full range of military capabilities. But I think they are intending
   to build capabilities that give them considerable freedom of action in
   Asia and the opportunity to extend their influence,' Gates added.
   That influence has at times concerned China's neighbors and could be a
   topic of discussion in Singapore.
   Since last week, reports of Chinese vessels violating territorial
   claims in the South China Sea have provoked formal protests from the
   Philippines and Vietnam. Both countries complained that China allegedly
   violated their territorial waters by either erecting marker posts on
   small reefs and islands or chasing away their ships.
   Representatives from all three countries will be attending the
   conference in Singapore.

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