US seeks better military ties with China amid strains

Amid growing uneasiness in the United States over the rise of Chinese military power, Washington asserted that its interest in the Asia-Pacific region is not targeted towards any specific country, but towards the general peace and security of the region.

"The United States views the Asia-Pacific region as a top priority. Our policy is focused on the region and not on any one country in particular," George Little, the Pentagon Press Secretary told reporters during an off camera news conference.

"With respect to China, they have the right to develop military capabilities and plan just as we do and we repeatedly call for transparency from the Chinese and that's part of the relationship we are continuing to build with the Chinese military. That's important and transparency is the key," Little said.

The remarks came after the Chinese President Hu Jintao urged his navy to prepare for military combat and advance naval modernisation as part of effort to safeguard world peace.

The navy should "accelerate its transformation and modernisation in a sturdy way, and make extended preparations for military combat in order to make greater contributions to safeguard national security and world peace," Hu said in a speech.

US President Barack Obama had recently indicated that America would be looking at increasing its presence in the Asia Pacific, where it already has significant military assets.

China has the right to develop naval forces, said Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt John Kirby.

"Our naval forces are ready," he noted. "The peaceful rise of China is a good thing for the region, is a good thing for the world. We continue to seek a better military relationship with China. We continue to pursue that. That is not only in their interest, ours but the entire world as well," Kirby said.

Amid China's increasingly belligerent posture in the Asia-Pacific, especially over the South China Sea, India, US and Japan will meet here for the first tri-lateral dialogue on December 19.

The South China Sea has become a major issue between China and other countries with Beijing claiming complete sovereignty over the resource-rich waters.