USA (bbabo.net), - During a speech at the Stimson Washington think tank, US Navy Secretary Carlos del Toro said that the United States is committed to establishing stable relations with China in the Indo-Pacific region. TASS reports this.

“We want a peaceful, open and free Indo-Pacific and must strive to achieve sustainable relationships with China and any other adversary we have. We need to strive for peaceful coexistence,” he said.

The United States, he said, should work with its allies in the region, including those who have territorial disputes with China over several islands in the Indo-Pacific region, to resolve them. However, he added, this US position does not mean that “other countries should not trade with China or have good economic relations with China.”

The Pentagon spokesman stressed that international law must be respected in the Indo-Pacific region, “including free passage of ships and overflight of aircraft wherever permitted.”

As previously reported, the United States and the Philippines are currently conducting annual joint exercises Balikatan 2024 in the South China Sea. The Philippine Coast Guard will take part in the maneuvers for the first time. Its tasks include developing a response to the armed seizure of an island in the province of Palawan, located near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, the rights to which are disputed by China and the Philippines, as well as Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia.

The maneuvers will last until May 10. About 11 thousand American and about 5 thousand Filipino troops, as well as Australian and French troops, are taking part in them. Representatives from 14 countries in Asia and Europe are present as observers. Japan has been invited to directly participate in the exercises.

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