A senior US admiral said Thursday that the current frictions in the Indian Ocean are alarming and “going in the wrong direction,” but that the US presence is not an attempt to contain or provoke conflict with China.
Admiral John Aquilino, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said that the “AUKUS” partnership between Australia, Britain and the United States to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines will enhance the country’s defense capabilities.
“As good partners, the United States and the United Kingdom will go forward to help Australia defend itself,” he said after a lecture in Singapore in response to a question from the audience.
“We intend to operate as quickly and safely as possible.”
The United States under President Joe Biden has recently strengthened its alliances in the Asia-Pacific region in an effort to counter China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait as Beijing seeks to defend its territorial claims.
Aquilino said the United States, with its maneuvers and patrols in the region, does not seek to fight or contain China, nor will it support Taiwan independence.
Referring to comments made by Chinese Foreign Minister Chen Gang earlier this month that “conflicts and confrontations” were inevitable if Washington did not change its stance, Aquilino said it was important he made sure his partners and China knew the United States was not out of trouble. Fight order.
“There is a place for China in this world to play by the rules as we all do,” he said.
