U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2007)

United States Pacific Command

Admiral Timothy J. Keating, U.S. Navy
Commander, U.S. Pacific Command

Press Conference
Hanoi, Vietnam

December 13, 2007

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Question: As you might know, the Spratlys Islands and Paracels Islands issue has become heated again recently between Vietnam and China. There was a protest here last Sunday. Does the United States have a position on that?

Admiral Keating: The United States Pacific Command has a position there, Frank, that one of the absolute fundamental concepts to which we are committed is the freedom of navigation on the high seas. Now I know there are folks who stake claims to certain parts of the Pacific -- the East China Sea, the Indian Ocean, you name it. But we are resolutely committed to maintaining freedom of navigation on the high seas at the United States Pacific Command. So that the individual differences of interpretation between let's say Vietnam and the People's Republic of China, we would of course allow those two countries to work out their differences. But our position at United States Pacific Command is clear. Freedom of the high seas is an integral element of our economic development and our military operational capabilities and we support freedom of navigation on the high seas.

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Question: Hi. Over the Thanksgiving break a U.S. aircraft carrier was refused entry at the Port of Hong Kong. I wonder if that gives the Navy any increased impetus to seek more ports in the area where its ships can dock and whether we might see U.S. aircraft carriers docking in Vietnam, or whether that's even possible.

Admiral Keating: The refusal of the Chinese government to give access to the USS Kitty Hawk was a cause of concern to us at the Pacific Command. We voiced that concern. Our reasons are several. We think that the behavior of nations who seek a harmonious relationship and peaceful rise should include approval of visits of ports of call. We have already seen that demonstrated by approval from Vietnam for United States naval ship visits and research ship visits here within the past year. Additionally, it was a matter of not minor concern to us that many hundreds of dependents from sailors on the Kitty Hawk and the air wing had already flown to Hong Kong to be with their family members for the American Thanksgiving holiday.

So it was an unfortunate incident, at least. We have had discussions at high levels with Chinese officials and we have expressed our concern to them.

As to visits by United States naval ships, including aircraft carriers, it's an ongoing discussion, topic, and it came up several times today. Not specifically aircraft carriers, but all naval ships including hospital ships, and we received assurances from the leaders of Vietnam that all of those ships would be given favorable consideration. So I'm optimistic about port visits in Vietnam.

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