KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 — The United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) said it will maintain its presence in the South China Sea as part of its broader efforts to preserve security and stability across the Indo Pacific while supporting its regional allies and partners.
USPACOM Staff Judge Advocate Navy Captain Dustin Wallace said security and stability in the South China Sea remained critical to the command’s mission in the Indo-Pacific.
“We will continue to focus our efforts on security and stability.
“It is our job at USPACOM to deter any form of aggression and any form of destabilising activity in the South China Sea and across the Indo-Pacific,” he told reporters at a press conference held in conjunction with the 37th International Military Law and Operations Conference (MILOPS 26) here on Monday.
Wallace reaffirmed USPACOM’s commitment to the international law, freedom of navigation and freedom of commerce, emphasising that they are key principles shared by the US and its regional partners to protect sovereign equality and sovereign rights.
On ASEAN, Wallace described the grouping as critical to regional peace and security, adding that USPACOM strongly supported ASEAN centrality.
He said the command aimed to work with each ASEAN country according to its respective sovereign interests and priorities.
“Not every country has the exact same focus, so we want to work with each and every country across the region, identify what their sovereign interests are, and meet them where their sovereign interests are,” he said.
He said the command sought to strengthen existing partnerships and build new relationships to advance peace, security and prosperity across the region.
MILOPS 26, held from Aug 3 to 6, is hosted by the USPACOM in close cooperation with Malaysia’s Defence Ministry and the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Themed “From the Seabed to Space: Advancing Security, Freedom, and Prosperity for All Across the Indo-Pacific”, the conference brings together more than 300 military leaders, national security lawyers, policymakers and scholars from over 30 countries, as well as representatives of international organisations.
The annual forum aims to promote dialogue and cooperation on legal, operational and policy issues while reinforcing the rule of law and sovereign equality of all nations.
