Admiral Robert F Willard, chief of the US Pacific Command in Hawaii, said on Thursday China’s assertive posture in the South China Sea was a matter of concern.
Admiral Robert F Willard, chief of the US Pacific Command in Hawaii, said on Thursday China’s assertive posture in the South China Sea was a matter of concern.
Willard is called Top Gun Admiral after he coordinated flight sequences for the 1988 Hollywood blockbuster ‘Top Gun’ featuring Tom Cruise.
He is a naval aviator who has been in-charge of the Pacific Command for the past 10 months.
During his two-day visit to New Delhi, Willard met the three services chiefs, national security advisor and foreign and defence secretaries.
He said, “With respect to China, Pacific Command would like to see a greater military-to-military relationship. We are watching China’s intent in the South China Sea and would like to engage China in a more constructive role in the region, as the Chinese PLA Navy has a remarkable growth capability and capacity. Their sustained presence in the Gulf of Aden in operations associated with quelling piracy and protecting sea lines of communication have been commendable.”
On entering into a strategic partnership with India that goes beyond annual joint exercises and selling hardware, the admiral said the US was now taking up exchanges related to counter-terrorism, cyber and space issues. The Pacific Command was the lead agency in studying Lashkar-e-Taiba threats.
Willard is the fifth senior US official to tour India in the run-up to president Barack Obama’s proposed visit in November. Chairman of joint chiefs of staff Admiral Mike Mullen, national security advisor General James Jones, secretary of defence Robert Gates and under secretary of defence Michele Flournoy were the other visitors.
The Central Command’s responsibility is Pakistan and Gulf countries along with the Arabian Sea, which makes it mandatory for the Indian Navy to deal with the US Navy through it.
Otherwise, India is the responsibility of the Hawaii-based Pacific Command, which facilitates the Indian army’s dealing with the US army.
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