{"id":57317,"date":"2019-09-02T15:50:09","date_gmt":"2019-09-02T15:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/09\/02\/us-promotes-free-and-open-indo-pacific-at-naval-exercise\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:04:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:04:28","slug":"us-promotes-free-and-open-indo-pacific-at-naval-exercise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2019\/09\/02\/us-promotes-free-and-open-indo-pacific-at-naval-exercise\/","title":{"rendered":"US promotes free and open Indo-Pacific at naval exercise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SATTAHIP, Thailand \u2014 A senior U.S. naval officer underlined Washington\u2019s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific as the United States on Monday launched its first joint naval exercise with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rear Adm. Kenneth Whitesell spoke at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise at the Sattahip naval base in eastern Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the multilateral exercise demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, which Washington has been promoting to counter China\u2019s increasing influence<\/a> in Asia, including Beijing\u2019s territorial claims in the South China Sea<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several Southeast Asian countries contest the Chinese claims of ownership of almost all of the strategically important area. Beijing has asserted its claim by building seven islands and equipping them with military runways, missile defense systems and outposts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Vice
Vice Adm. Charoenpol Khumrasri, of Royal Thai Navy, left and Rear Adm. Kenneth Whitesell, of the U.S. Navy, participate in the inauguration ceremony of ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise in Sattahip, Thailand, Monday, Sep. 2, 2019. (Gemunu Amarasinghe\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The United States has been shoring up relations with allies and taking a higher military profile in the Pacific<\/a> as part of its rivalry with China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The joint operation, first proposed in 2017, involves eight warships and four aircraft from seven of ASEAN\u2019s 10 countries, and more than 1,000 personnel. As well as practicing search and seizure operations, the exercise will work on interoperability in maritime asset tracking and division tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are a robust constellation of allies and partners working collectively towards continued security and stability of a free and open Indo-Pacific,\u201d said Whitesell. \u201cThere is no better signal of our desire to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific than the robust diversity of U.S. naval operations in this region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Officers
Officers of the U.S. Navy and maritime forces of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) participate in the inauguration ceremony of ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise in Sattahip, Thailand, Monday, Sep. 2, 2019. (Gemunu Amarasinghe\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In response, the U.S. has accused China of bullying behavior and recently sailed an aircraft carrier through the disputed waters, one in a series of shows of military might that it calls freedom of navigation operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are in the Indo-Pacific to stay,\u201d said Whitesell. \u201cMy promise to you is that we will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all nations who share a mutual respect for and adherence to international law, as well as a vision of free and open Indo-Pacific.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t