US commander assures Asian allies over South China Sea
The new US commander of the Pacific Fleet has assured allies in the Asia-Pacific region that American forces are ready to respond to any unpredicted incident in the South China Sea, amid tensions over the disputed waters.
The US Navy may deploy more than the four combat ships it has reserved for East Asia, Admiral Scott Swift, who took control of the Pacific Fleet in May, told journalists in the Philippines capital of Manila on Friday.
Swift also announced that he was "very interested" in expanding annual war games the US Navy holds separately with each of several allies into a multi-nation drill, possibly including Japan, according to The Associated Press.
Beijing claims sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, which is also claimed in part by Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Over the past months, tensions have escalated between China and its neighbors over the South China Sea, where territorial disputes have fueled widespread uncertainties.
Asked how many resources the US military is ready to devote to the South China Sea, Admiral Swift said, "If we had the entire Unites States Navy here in the region, I think people would still be asking, 'Can you bring more?'"
"The reason that people continue to ask about the long-term commitment and intentions of the Pacific Fleet is reflective really of all the uncertainty that has generated in the theatre now," Swift said.
The US Pacific Fleet, which is headquartered in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, is regarded as the world's largest, with about 200 ships and submarines, nearly 1,100 aircraft and more than 140,000 sailors and civilians.
However, it also operates in a vast area that covers nearly half of the Earth's surface and is inhabited by over half of the world's population.
The Obama administration is trying to keep its focus on a widely advertised "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific region and shift away from the Middle East, a policy it has pursued since 2011.
Observers believe America’s efforts to increase its presence in the region is aimed at containing China.
China accuses the United States of meddling in the regional issues and deliberately stirring up tensions in the South China Sea.
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