Keating: China could join 1,000-ship navy

Keating: China could join 1,000-ship navy

By Zachary M. Peterson - Staff writer

Posted : Wednesday Jul 25, 2007 9:21:49 EDT

The Chinese navy could eventually become part of what Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen envisions as the “1,000-ship navy,” Pacific Command head Adm. Timothy Keating said Tuesday.

At a question-and-answer session at a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a public policy research group, Keating said that maritime cooperation with China is important, saying he recently met with Chinese defense officials.

He acknowledged that China could eventually become part of the “1,000-ship navy,” but he said challenges remain.

The U.S. currently is working with China to facilitate better coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief missions in the Pacific, he said.

In time, Keating said, “I think China could be part of the 1000-ship navy.” However, he said that this will not happen quickly, but he remains “cautiously optimistic” that the U.S. Navy could work more closely with China’s navy in the future.

He said that Pacific Command is watching the development of China’s military capabilities with “more than a passing interest.” Keating stressed the need to continue to work to “reduce areas of misunderstanding,” citing the example of the Chinese submarine that surfaced near the Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group last year. He noted that both the U.S. and China had the right to operate in the Pacific, but they both need to improve transparency and communication.

In response to a question about a potential naval arms buildup in the region, Keating said he was not concerned, nor was he aware of, a maritime arms race. He said the U.S. maintains a “technological advantage” over potential adversaries in the region, and that the United States “doesn’t intend to yield” this advantage. His advice to any potential future military competitor interested in trying to challenge U.S. capabilities: “Don’t do it.”

Keating also stressed the importance of building more multilateral relationships with countries in the region. Historically, most military relationships in the region have been built bilaterally, something Keating said he would like to see changed. One example of the multinational cooperation Keating supports is the Malabar-07 naval exercise, scheduled for September, that will involve the Indian, Japanese, Singaporean, Australian and U.S. navies.

Referencing his time as flag aide to former PacCom head Adm. William J. Crowe Jr., Keating said he’s seen great progress in relationships in Asia, noting, “It’s much different today than it was in 1985.”

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