| Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC May 18, 2007 Question taken at daily briefing of May 18, 2007 ASEAN: Military Engagement With China (Taken Question)Question: The commander of U.S. Marine Corps forces in the Pacific, John Goodman, recently said that China's proposals for joint China-ASEAN military exercises was a positive overture. Does this reflect the official U.S. position? Answer: As LTG Goodman indicated, China's outreach in the region offers an opportunity. As with our own efforts to engage the Chinese military, we believe interaction between the People's Liberation Army and ASEAN counterparts could contribute to better regional understanding of China's intentions in its military modernization process, as well as its military capabilities and doctrine. This can of course be positive, so long as it is done in an open and transparent manner. The United States maintains close, mutually beneficial bilateral relationships with the nations of Southeast Asia, including treaty alliances with the Philippines and Thailand. We also are continuing to strengthen our civil-military multilateral cooperation in the region - including with ASEAN members and China - on a wide range of security issues, especially through the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which includes 26 Asia-pacific nations including China and ASEAN. As an inclusive venue for Asia-Pacific security and military issues, ARF provides valuable opportunities for increased multilateral efforts among regional militaries.
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