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| China-Japan-Koreas | |
| U.S. not to send aircraft carrier to Yellow Sea | |
| 2010-07-15 | |
The exercises were originally scheduled for late last month, but were delayed as the U.N. Security Council was discussing the sinking of the Cheonan, which killed 46 sailors in the Yellow Sea in March. "The carrier portion is expected to be in the East Sea," the official said, asking anonymity. "There are many other exercises, including naval exercises that are part of this package. Some of them will take place in the Yellow Sea. Some of them will take place in the East Sea. They involve different exercise scenarios, different capabilities, different assets and different places." China has repeatedly expressed concerns about joint exercises by South Korea and the U.S. near its own coast. There are allegations that the U.S. made a deal to listen to China regarding the Cheonan incident and joint drills in the Yellow Sea in return for China agreeing to new Security Council sanctions on Iran. The anonymous official denied such allegations. "We only consult with our allies about military exercises," he said. "We do not consult outside the alliance. There is no truth to the suggestion that somehow the decision about the shape of the exercise we do with the ROK is driven by consultation or diplomatic pressure from China." Technical considerations drive the military planners to decide on the shape of the exercises, he said. "People just assumed that the Cheonan was sunk here so that is where the exercise has to be," the official said. "But that is not what the military planners proposed. They have many technical considerations that go into their planning. Their proposal was for this to take place off the east coast." The official noted, "The George Washington just conducted a major combined exercise in the Yellow Sea seven or eight months ago. It has never exercised in the East Sea. That is one major consideration for the planners. "The other reason is that the George Washington has a schedule already," he said. "It is home-ported in Yokosuka (Japan). So the exercise on the Japan side means that they can spend more time training and less time just traveling." The official said that the aim of the joint exercises is to send a message to South Korea to "assure that the alliance is very strong and our joint resolve is strong." "These exercises are not about China," he said. "These are defensive exercises. And we are sending a message of deterrence to North Korea by demonstrating our capability and our readiness." The official said that the final decision on the joint exercises will be made next Wednesday when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates visit Seoul to discuss the bilateral alliance and joint defense capabilities. "The secretaries and ministers will meet on the 21st (of July) to make a final decision," he said. "The first series of the exercises could begin any time after they give the green light." | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
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| Posted by: Uncle Phester 2010-07-15 19:47 |
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| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2010-07-15 12:52 |
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| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-07-15 09:04 |
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| Posted by: bigjim-CA 2010-07-15 04:34 |
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| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-07-15 03:05 |