U.S. and Hong Kong (2002)

Joint Chiefs Chairman Stresses U.S. Advisory Role in Philippines

Following is a transcript of the April 27 news briefing:

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TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS BRIEFING BY GENERAL RICHARD B. MYERS
CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
MANILA PENINSULA HOTEL
APRIL 27, 2002

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

Q: General, there's a view that growing U.S. military presence in this country is actually directed towards China, is it?

MYERS: Oh no. First of all, I don't think the U.S. military presence in Asia-Pacific has grown substantially.

Q: Here in the Philippines.

MYERS: Oh sure, in the Philippines we have some exercises going on, so it is larger right now, but many of those forces involved in those exercises are actually from other installations in the Asia Pacific region. But no, this is not directed at China. The United States has a lot of interest in the Asia Pacific region. We're a Pacific nation. We're on the rim of the Pacific and a lot of our trade and our well-being relates directly to what happens over here in this region. So this is not an issue about China. This is an issue about our presence in the region to promote stability and hopefully, through stability, good commerce and prosperity. Not just for the United States, but for our friends and allies as well.

Q: How would you assess the potential threats to U.S. troops given that they are operating now, they're in training exercises, in areas where the communist rebels are very active and they have threatened U.S. troops directly.

MYERS: Well clearly, anytime you wear a uniform and you're involved in an exercise and you're in an area where there are some that have attacked you in the past, you have to worry about force protection. It's one of the things that we ask our commanders and we ask the host nation to work. I think we're satisfied with the support we're getting from the Philippine government for the pieces of the force protection equation that they'll bring in. And of course, we'll take the ultimate precaution as well. It just goes back to -- there's nothing easy in this -- anything that's worth doing is not easy. This is tough work. We think the exercises are worth meeting the risks we take.

Q: To follow up the question on China. At this point, from the strategic point of view, would you say China is an ally, an enemy, potential ally, or potential enemy?

MYERS: Again, this is way outside my lane. I know that China is a growing force in the Asia Pacific region. Their economy is developing, of course, and we have military-to-military relations with China. From the U.S. standpoint, we'll continue those. We have ship visits to Hong Kong. We have exercises with Hong Kong on search and rescue. So I don't think it's fair to characterize them either way. It's a country that's developing.

Q: At this point, your military has not classified China either way?

MYERS: Certainly not, no.

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