Business Week
29 July 2014
- RSIS
- Media Mentions
- U.S. Says More Chinese Drills a “Natural Evolution”
U.S. Says More Chinese Drills a “Natural Evolution”
An increase in Chinese maritime exercises in the Pacific is a “natural evolution” and the drills will grow in complexity as the navy boosts its capacity, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Admiral Robert Thomas said.
China is expected to keep up a “steady drumbeat” of exercises in the region, Thomas told reporters yesterday at the opening ceremony of a bilateral naval exercise with Singapore known as CARAT Singapore.
“This is a natural evolution for the PLAN as they improve their professionalism, as they improve both their capacity and capability,” he said, referring to the People’s Liberation Army Navy. “You should expect more exercises, and frankly more complex exercises.”
… “On the one hand, yes, it’s road testing its military kit, but on the other hand it’s also provocative,” said Evan Resnick, an assistant professor and coordinator of the United States Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. “This is an interesting moderation in tone on the part of the United States. This might be an attempt to try and calm the waters as it were in East Asia.”
RSIS / IDSS / Online
