American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2012 – In a
message to the men and women of the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Leon
E. Panetta shared his perspectives from his recent trip to the Asia-Pacific
region.
Here is the secretary’s message:
This week I returned from a week-long
trip to Japan, China, and New Zealand, my third trip to the Asia-Pacific region
as Secretary of Defense.
The underlying purpose of the trip was
to support our new defense strategy, which calls for the Department of Defense
to increase our focus on the Asia-Pacific region. This strategy is part of a
government-wide effort that includes increased economic, diplomatic,
development, and security efforts – all in order to renew and revitalize
America’s role in a region that is becoming more critical to our future
security and prosperity.
My first stop was Tokyo, a city that I
have visited a number of times in previous capacities, and on my first trip to
Asia as Secretary of Defense last year. I am always appreciative of the warm
hospitality and genuine friendship that the people of Japan extend to me and
all their American visitors. It reflects the fact that Japan is a very close
ally in the region, and that our Alliance has served as the cornerstone of
peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific for more than 50 years.
This trip took place during a time of
increased tensions between China and Japan over competing claims to the Senkaku
Islands in the East China Sea – an episode that serves as a reminder of the
important role the United States military continues to play in ensuring peace
and security in the region. My message to the Government of Japan, which I
would later repeat in China, was simple: the United States doesn’t take a
position on competing sovereignty claims but we urge both sides to exercise
calm and restraint, and we have an interest in seeing this dispute resolved
peacefully and through diplomatic means.
While in Japan, I had very productive
meetings with Foreign Minister Gemba and Defense Minister Morimoto that allowed
us to make progress on two key issues for our Alliance. First, we agreed to
pursue an additional ballistic missile defense radar, directed at protecting
the people of Japan, U.S. forward-deployed forces, and the U.S. homeland, from
the North Korean missile threat. Second, we set the stage for an agreement,
announced later in the week that reconfirmed the safety of the MV-22 Osprey
aircraft, enabled the commencement of flight operations, and paved the way for the
deployment of the aircraft to in Okinawa. The Osprey is an important new
capability that will greatly enhance our ability to defend Japan and respond to
crises in the region – with twice the speed, three times the payload, and four
times the range of the platform it replaces.
Before departing Tokyo, I had the
opportunity to visit with several hundred American service members stationed at
Yokota Air Base – a critical hub for our activities in the region. I had the
chance to describe our new defense strategy and point out that the key to our
strength rests with them – the men and women in uniform serving our Nation.
It’s always a highlight for me to have the opportunity to interact with service
members wherever I travel in the world.
My next stop was Beijing, a visit that
marked my first trip to China as Secretary of Defense. The goal of this visit
was to build on the progress we have made toward establishing a
military-to-military relationship with China that is healthy, stable, reliable,
and continuous. Our two nations have had a series of high-level interactions
this year – from the visit of Vice President Xi to the Pentagon earlier in the
year to General Liang’s visit in May – that have helped to build sustained and
substantive interactions between our leaders. My visit continued this trend.
One of the highlights was an elaborate welcome banquet General Liang hosted in
my honor at the State Guest House in Beijing, which even included a magic show
and a few hundred toasts that we all survived.
In my discussions with key military and
civilian leaders, the thing that most impressed me is that we are building the
kind of relationship where we can talk openly and candidly about our
disagreements. At the same time, we are increasingly able to identify areas where
our militaries can cooperate more – such as counterpiracy and maritime
security, humanitarian relief and disaster assistance, and peacekeeping
operations. In that spirit, I invited China to send a ship to RIMPAC 2014 – the
world’s largest multilateral Naval exercise.
I was also encouraged by my interactions
with young officers and cadets at the Engineering Academy of PLA Armored
Forces, where I gave a speech focusing on the United States rebalance to
Asia-Pacific region and had the opportunity to join students for lunch in the
cafeteria. The questions that I got from the young cadets were candid and
thoughtful, and it was clear that they appreciated my message that a stronger
defense relationship between the U.S. and China is critically important to security
and prosperity in the 21st century.
On my third and final day in China, I
was able to fly to the coastal city of Qingdao and visit the headquarters of
the North Sea fleet. There, I toured a PLA frigate and a diesel powered
submarine. I was impressed with the professionalism and discipline of the PLA
sailors, and it is clear that they are working to modernize their military.
Throughout my visit, I stressed the importance of increasing their transparency
as they undergo this modernization, so it was a positive step for me to be
given a tour of these ships.
From Qingdao, we boarded our plane for
the final time in China and took an overnight flight down to Auckland, New
Zealand, the final stop on this trip.
It was the first visit I’ve ever made to
New Zealand, and I was struck by the similarities in landscape between Auckland
and my native Northern California. It was a special honor to be in Auckland
because I was the first United States Secretary of Defense to visit New Zealand
in 30 years.
Soon after I arrived, New Zealand’s
Defence Forces hosted a welcome ceremony for me that befitted the historic
nature of this visit. During the ceremony, a group of Maori tribesman
approached me with a ceremonial challenge. My job was to pick up a dagger while
not smiling and maintaining eye contact in order to signal that I came in
peace. Luckily, I passed the test.
My broader purpose in traveling to New
Zealand was first and foremost to recognize that New Zealand has been a
stalwart friend over the past decade of war. In Afghanistan, New Zealand has
made a variety of contributions to the war effort and continues to lead the
Bamiyan provincial reconstruction team. During my visit, I paid tribute to New
Zealand’s war heroes at their National War Memorial Museum, and I had the
opportunity to recognize five individual soldiers from the New Zealand Defence
Forces with Army Commendation Medals.
New Zealand also plays an important role
as a provider of security in the South Pacific, and as the United States
rebalances to the Asia-Pacific region we are looking for new ways to partner
together to enhance regional security. To that end, I was pleased to be able to
announce while in New Zealand that the U.S. government is changing some
policies that govern interactions with New Zealand’s military, which were put
into effect after New Zealand passed nuclear-free legislation in the mid-1980s.
Specifically, we have eliminated restrictions on discussions and exercises
between our two militaries, and we have established a mechanism to authorize
individual visits by ships of New Zealand’s Royal Navy to U.S. military and
coast guard facilities, both in the United States and around the world.
These changes sent a strong signal that
we are entering into a new era of defense cooperation with New Zealand. More
broadly, my entire week-long trip sent the message that the United States is
following through with our strategy to rebalance towards the Asia-Pacific
region. Throughout the week, it was heartening to hear Allies, friends and
partners in the region welcome the Department’s renewed focus on Asia-Pacific.
The high regard they have for the U.S. military is a reflection of the
dedication and professionalism of all our men and women in uniform, and the
civilians who support them. I am proud of what we have accomplished together
and grateful for your continued service to a strong and secure America.
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