U.S. Lauds Warmer Ties With China Military
Admiral Thomas Fargo, the highest-ranking U.S. military official to visit China since the "spy plane crisis" of April 2001, also stressed shared interests in the U.S.-led war on terror but gave few details of his talks with Chinese officials.
"First and foremost, I worry about conflict on the Korean peninsula," Fargo, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, said in a speech delivered earlier on Tuesday to students at Shanghai's prestigious Fudan University.
"China ... is in a unique position to positively influence the outcome of this crisis. We look to China's strong and proactive assistance," he said.
North Korea sparked an international furore last week after it declared its intention to restart a nuclear reactor mothballed in 1994 over alleged production of weapons-grade plutonium under a deal with Washington.
Beijing, which fought alongside Pyongyang in the 1950-53 Korean War and remains its closest friend, has publicly urged the North to abandon its nuclear weapons program.
"There are clearly areas where we have shared interest in cooperating right now," Fargo told reporters after the speech. "Both of our countries believe strongly that the Korean peninsula needs to remain non-nuclear."
Fargo gave no specifics on discussions during his tour of various military bases and in meetings with senior officials in Beijing, Chengdu, Nanjing, Ningbo and Shanghai.
But he said the United States and China had worked out a framework for fuller military exchanges during talks last week in Washington D.C., the first formal top-level military talks since U.S. President George W. Bush took office two years ago.
The U.S.-China military relationship has warmed since a tense diplomatic standoff triggered by a mid-air collision between an American spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet last year.
Chinese backing for U.S. efforts in combating terrorism after the September 11 attacks have been crucial in mending ties, and the two countries had since initiated a flurry of exchanges, including a port of call by destroyer USS Paul Foster in November.
But U.S. officials have called for greater access to Chinese military bases when full exchanges resume.
"This is a step in the right direction," Fargo said in relation to his visit and Pentagon talks.
bc-usa-china-military usa-china-military:u.s. lauds warmer ties with china military shanghai, dec 17 (reuters) - a senior u.s.
military officer closed a five-day visit to china, hailing progress in closer military ties and expressing hope that beijing can help resolve the crisis over north korea's nuclear programme.
admiral thomas fargo, the highest-ranking u.s.
military official to visit china since the spy plane crisis of april 2001, also stressed shared interests in the u.s.-led war on terror but gave few details of his talks with chinese officials.
"first and foremost, i worry about conflict on the korean peninsula," fargo, head of the u.s. pacific command, said in a speech delivered earlier on tuesday to students at shanghai's prestigious fudan university.
"china ... is in a unique position to positively influence the outcome of this crisis. we look to china's strong and proactive assistance," he said.
north korea sparked an international furore last week after it declared its intention to restart a nuclear reactor mothballed in 1994 over alleged production of weapons-grade plutonium under a deal with washington.
beijing, which fought alongside pyongyang in the 1950-53 korean war and remains its closest friend, has publicly urged the north to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.
"there are clearly areas where we have shared interest in cooperating right now," fargo told reporters after the speech. "both of our countries believe strongly that the korean peninsula needs to remain non-nuclear."
fargo gave no specifics on discussions during his tour of various military bases and in meetings with senior officials in beijing, chengdu, nanjing, ningbo and shanghai.
but he said the united states and china had worked out a framework for fuller military exchanges during talks last week in washington d.c., the first formal top-level military talks since u.s. president george w. bush took office two years ago.
the u.s.-china military relationship has warmed since a tense diplomatic stand-off triggered by a mid-air collision between an american spy plane and a chinese fighter jet last year.
chinese backing for u.s. efforts in combatting terrorism after the september 11 attacks have been crucial in mending ties, and the two countries had since initiated a flurry of exchanges, including a port of call by destroyer uss paul foster in november.
but u.s. officials have called for greater access to chinese military bases when full exchanges resume.
"this is a step in the right direction," fargo said in relation to his visit and pentagon talks.