US commander calls for greater transparency from China's military

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The US military's Asia-Pacific commander said Tuesday that China needs to be more open about its military plans, citing its explanation over a denied port call in Hong Kong for US ships as an example of its lack of transparency. China has rapidly expanded its military in recent years, raising concerns in neighboring countries and in the United States, which voiced displeasure in November when Beijing rejected a Hong Kong port call by the USS Kitty Hawk and five ships accompanying it. The same week, two US Navy minesweepers also were turned away after seeking shelter during a storm. "Increased transparency can yield to greater trust - that reduces the potential for misunderstanding, misunderstanding can lead to conflict or crisis, and that is very much not in our interest. We want peace and stability in the region," Adm. Timothy Keating, the head of the US Pacific Command, told reporters Tuesday.