| Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC October 30, 2006 Question Taken at Daily Briefing of October 30, 2006 Chinese Premier Wen's Calls for P.R.C.-ASEAN Cooperation (Taken Question)
Question: Please respond to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's call for increased military cooperation between China and members of ASEAN. What about calls for institutionalized military cooperation? Answer: Our understanding is that Premier Wen called for increasing military dialogues and exchanges between China and ASEAN members as part of a broader program of dialogue on common security issues. Such military-to-military dialogue and engagement can increase transparency and promote stability. We encourage China to be more open about its military strategy, doctrine and budgets as it modernizes its military. Although ASEAN itself is not a security organization, engaging other countries and other militaries in the region on security issues can be a positive step, so long as it is done in an open and non-exclusionary manner. |
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