US maintains powerful military presence in WPS, increases operations tempo

From Update.Ph (Jul 10): US maintains powerful military presence in WPS, increases operations tempo



The United States is using a whole-of-government approach to address the problems in South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) and the Asia-Pacific. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Abraham M. Denmar said at a joint hearing of two subcommittees of the House Armed Services Committee, last week, that the Defense Department is working with the State Department and others to ensure peace and stability.

Denmark said the Pentagon is working along with four lines of effort in the South China Sea. The first is military presence. He said the United States has a credible, powerful capability in the region that creates stability and provides the space for diplomacy.

“We’ve increased our military presence and we’re ensuring our presence is geographically distributed, operationally resilient and politically sustainable,” he added.

The second line of effort is an increase in the tempo of military operations in the region, he told the panel. Exercises with partner nations, freedom of navigation exercises and presence operations which mean US Department of Defense continues to fly, sail and operate “wherever international law allows so that others can do the same,” Denmark said.

The Pentagon is also working with partner nations to enhance their capabilities and capacity, particularly through work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Denmark said.

“Finally, we are engaging China directly to reduce risk… We seek to keep lines of communication with Beijing open and improve our cooperation in areas of mutual interest and to speak candidly and constructively when we disagree,” he said.

http://www.update.ph/2016/07/us-maintains-powerful-military-presence-in-wps-increases-operations-tempo/7266