More S.Korea, US drills likely
- Source: Global Times
- [02:49 July 22 2010]
- Comments
An E-2 Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning aircraft waits on the deck of the aircraft carrier USGeorge Washington at South Korea's port city of Busan Wednesday. The US aircraft carrier and three destroyers arrived in South Korea ahead of a naval exercise following the sinking of one of Seoul's warships. Photo: AFP
By Chen Rui
The US won't give up on using the Yellow Sea as a bargaining chip with China in its contention for interests in and dominance of Northeast Asia, even though the naval superpower has refrained from using the waters for a four-day joint military drill with South Korea that starts Sunday, Chinese military experts warned.
The first of the much-discussed and delayed South Korea- US joint naval drills, dubbed "Invincible Spirit," will be held off South Korea's east coast from July 25 to 28, with around 8,000 soldiers from both countries mobilized, JoongAng Daily reported Wednesday, quoted the South Korean Defense Ministry.
"The two countries will continue to hold joint military exercises either off the east coast or the west coast (of South Korea) for months to come," the ministry said Tuesady after a meeting between South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young and US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
In response to the annoucement, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Wednesday, "We resolutely oppose any foreign military vessel and planes conducting activities in the Yel-low Sea and China's coastal waters, which undermine China's security interests."
"We will continue to follow closely the developments of the situation," the ministry said, urging the relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint and refrain from activities that would escalate tension in the region.
South Korea and the US agreed to stage joint naval drills in the Yellow Sea off South Korea's western coast. The maneuvers were scheduled to start from June 7 and postponed several times be-cause "the US needed more time to prepare."
China has objected to the joint military exercises five times during the past fortnight. JoongAng Daily said the exercise was delayed after the protests.
Su Hao, director of the Strategy and Conflict Management Research Center at China Foreign Affairs University, hailed it as great progress in China's diplomatic wrestling with the US when it was announced the joint drill would be held in the Sea of Japan, off South Korea's east coast.
However, he noted that it is only a tactical adjustment and not a strategic one. "The US will continue to strengthen its presence in Northeast Asia," he said.
The idea was echoed by Lü Chao, director of the Center of South Korea Studies of the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, who noted that the US will continue to play "the Yellow Sea card" in order to maintain its dominance in Northeast Asia.
