Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) Amid concern in India over recent Chinese assertiveness, the US Thursday said it was keeping a watch on increasing Chinese activities in South China Sea and shared a common goal of making Beijing a constructive contributor to regional security.
The chief of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Robert F. Willard, also underlined the growing threat of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and said the US was looking to expand cooperation with India to tackle the terror network.

“Our common goal is to ensure China makes a constructive contributor to regional security,” Willard, who commands all US forces in the Asia-Pacific region, told reporters here.

He said China’s activities in the region and its intentions were among the issues that were discussed between him and Indian officials.

Willard met National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar. He also met the three service chiefs Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, Admiral Nirmal Verma and General V.K. Singh.

The two sides reviewed the growing India-US defence relationship and discussed ways to expand it further ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to India in November.

“India-US relationship has matured into a strategic dialogue,” he said.

Admiral Willard’s visit comes soon after a Pentagon report on the military capabilities of China, which says the 2.25-million strong People’s Liberation Army has moved “more advanced and survivable” solid-fuelled CSS-5 nuclear-capable ballistic missiles closer to the borders with India “to improve regional deterrence”.

China is also developing contingency plans to move airborne troops into the region, says the report.

The China issue is likely to figure in discussion when Defence Minister A.K. Antony goes to Washington towards the end of the month.

Relations between India and China came under stress after Beijing denied visa to a senior Indian Army general on grounds that his command included Jammu and Kashmir. India has also voiced concern over the reported presence of 7,000-11,000 Chinese troops in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

“Any change in military relations or military manoeuvres by China will be a cause of concern,” Willard said, adding that it was up to the Indian establishment to deal with the issue.

Willard also underlined the growing counter-terror cooperation between India and the US, saying the centre of gravity of terror networks lies in Pakistan. “The US has been re-evaluating global terror threats. LeT is one of the affiliates of al-Qaeda. We have a broader interest in tackling this threat,” he said.