‘Military cooperation between China and ASEAN may promote openness’

WASHINGTON: The United States welcomed a request by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for increased military cooperation with ASEAN as a potential step for greater transparency on military affairs by the Chinese. The Chinese Premier made the statement  at the ASEAN-China summit attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and other ASEAN leaders in China. The office of State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement Monday (Tuesday in Indonesia) that Wen’s appeal to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations apparently was “part of a broader dialogue on common security issues.” The statement said: “Such military-to-military dialogue and engagement can increase transparency and promote stability. “We encourage China to be more open about its military strategy, doctrine and budgets as it modernizes its military.” U.S. officials have emphasized for years their desire for more openness by the Chinese on their military capabilities and plans. “Although ASEAN itself is not a security organization, engaging other countries and other militaries in the region on security issues can be a positive step, so long as it is done in an open and non-exclusionary manner,” the statement said4. (**)