U.S. Pacific fleet commander tours China_时事politics

the commander of the u.s. pacific fleet adm. gary roughead (c) speaks to the media in beijing, monday, nov. 13, 2006. adm. roughead began a visit to china on monday in a trip aimed at strengthening ties between the two navies.  nov. 14 - the commander of the u.s. pacific fleet began a visit to china on monday in a trip aimed at strengthening ties between the two navies.

 

adm. gary roughead was scheduled to meet with china's military officials and help plan a nov. 19 search-and-rescue exercise, the second half of a two-part operation that began in the united states.

 

"the thrust of our discussions will really be in how our navies can gain a better understanding of one another," said roughead, who was visiting china the first time since taking the post.

 

he also told reporters he "really would like to know what the intent is in some of the developments" he's seen in the navy of the people's liberation army.

 

visits between the chinese and american militaries dropped off after the collision of a u.s. spy plane and a chinese fighter jet off china's coast in 2001.

 

relations have been improving recently as u.s. leaders cautiously seek to increase exchanges and better understand china's modernizing military.

 

the top u.s. pacific commander, adm. william fallon, has visited china three times since taking office about 18 months ago to boost contacts and reduce the potential for miscalculations.

 

in september, two chinese navy ships stopped in pearl harbor, hawaii, then on to san diego for the first part of the search-and-rescue exercise that will end this week in southern china.

 

the nov. 19 mission off the island province of hainan is still being planned, roughead said. it will involve 400 navy personnel from the uss juneau.