US building stronger bonds with nations like India for free and open Indo-Pacific: Mike Pence

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is construction new and stronger bonds with countries like India to advance its vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, US vice-president Mike Pence has said, amidst China flexing its army muscles in the area.

The US lately renamed its oldest and largest army command - the Pacific Command - to Indo-Pacific Command, in a largely symbolic move to signal India's importance.

"To advance our vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, we're building new and stronger bonds with nations that share our values, across the region - from India to Samoa. Our relationships will flow from a spirit of respect, built on partnership, not domination," Pence said Thursday in a major international policy speech on the Hudson Institute, a top American think-tank.

"We're forging new trade deals, on a bilateral basis, just as last week, President (Donald) Trump signed an improved trade deal with South Korea, and we will soon begin negotiating a historic bilateral free-trade deal with Japan," he said.

The US, he said, is streamlining world development and finance systems, giving international international locations a simply and clear selection to China's debt-trap international relations.

In July, the USA had announced $ 113 million in new regional investments focused on virtual connectivity, infrastructure and energy, amidst China flexing its army muscles in the Indo-Pacific area.

Pence said China was once the usage of its power like never prior to.

Chinese ships routinely patrol across the Senkaku Islands, which can be administered by Japan, he said.

Despite China's "reckless harassment", the USA Navy will proceed to fly, sail and perform anywhere world legislation lets in and "our national interests demand", he said.

"We will not be intimidated; we will not stand down," Pence said.

He said America had hoped that economic liberalisation would convey China into greater partnership with US and with the arena, however China has chosen economic aggression, which has in turn emboldened its rising army.

Next month, Pence will represent the USA in Singapore and Papua New Guinea, at Asean and APEC.

"There, we will unveil new measures and programs to support a free and open Indo-Pacific - and on behalf of the President, I will deliver the message that America's commitment to the Indo-Pacific has never been stronger," he said.


To protect US pursuits here at house, the administration has reinforced CFIUS - the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States - heightening our scrutiny of Chinese funding in America, to offer protection to nationwide security from Beijing's predatory movements.


China claims virtually all the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the realm.


China has deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-surface missile systems in the disputed South China Sea amid widespread forays by US naval and surveillance plane over the area to say the freedom of navigation especially across the artificial islands built by China, where it has also established garrisons.


"When it comes to Beijing's malign influence and interference in American politics and policy, we will continue to expose it, no matter the form it takes. And we will work with leaders at every level of society to defend our national interests and most cherished ideals. The American people will play the decisive role - and in fact, they already are…," Pence added.
US building stronger bonds with nations like India for free and open Indo-Pacific: Mike Pence US building stronger bonds with nations like India for free and open Indo-Pacific: Mike Pence Reviewed by Kailash on October 06, 2018 Rating: 5
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