ID :
185669
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 18:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/185669
The shortlink copeid
Senator points to China's buildup as a factor behind U.S. presence
TOKYO (Kyodo) - An influential U.S. senator pointed Tuesday to China's military buildup as a factor requiring U.S. military presence in Asia, warning that the exit of troops would trigger an arms race and bloodshed in the region.
Daniel Inouye, an 86-year-old World War II combat veteran, said that even though the United States ''became concerned that our footprint in Okinawa was too heavy,'' the nation thinks it is wrong to withdraw its troops from the island, which is ''closest to areas of concern.''
The U.S. senate president pro tempore referred to China's military buildup at a luncheon at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, saying, ''At this moment, the Chinese have more submarines in the Pacific than we do.''
Noting that Beijing is also launching aircraft carriers and possesses intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Democrat from Hawaii said military analysts are ''not convinced'' by the Chinese claim that this equipment is ''all for defense.''
Inouye said if the U.S. forces leave the region, Japanese ''may be inclined to arm themselves'' and that nations in the neighborhood ''will do the same.''
''We do have Spratly Islands, Senkaku and such, but we have not had major bloodshed in this area. We hope that our presence here will serve to maintain and continue the stability and peace,'' he said.
Spratly Islands, located in the South China Sea, are claimed wholly or partly by several countries, including China, while the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea are claimed by China, which calls them the Diaoyu.
Daniel Inouye, an 86-year-old World War II combat veteran, said that even though the United States ''became concerned that our footprint in Okinawa was too heavy,'' the nation thinks it is wrong to withdraw its troops from the island, which is ''closest to areas of concern.''
The U.S. senate president pro tempore referred to China's military buildup at a luncheon at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, saying, ''At this moment, the Chinese have more submarines in the Pacific than we do.''
Noting that Beijing is also launching aircraft carriers and possesses intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Democrat from Hawaii said military analysts are ''not convinced'' by the Chinese claim that this equipment is ''all for defense.''
Inouye said if the U.S. forces leave the region, Japanese ''may be inclined to arm themselves'' and that nations in the neighborhood ''will do the same.''
''We do have Spratly Islands, Senkaku and such, but we have not had major bloodshed in this area. We hope that our presence here will serve to maintain and continue the stability and peace,'' he said.
Spratly Islands, located in the South China Sea, are claimed wholly or partly by several countries, including China, while the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea are claimed by China, which calls them the Diaoyu.
