BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The ongoing US military maneuvers are aimed at testing its new Asia-Pacific strategy, said China's English-language newspaper China Daily in a signed article Thursday.

    Seven of the 12 aircraft-carriers of the US Navy will gather inthe West Pacific in mid-July as a part of months-long military maneuvers, code named "Summer Pulse '04," which include surface joint operations, anti-submarine and submarine operations, sea-and-air joint operations and harbor visits, according to the paper.

    The maneuvers, which started in early June and lasts until August, involve more than 50 warships, 600 aircraft and 150,000 servicemen from various services, and take place from the Atlantic,the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, to the Pacific. It is said to be the largest war game ever held.

    "The timing and the choice of areas indicate that these maneuvers have multiple purposes. The major purpose of the exercises is to try out the new Asia-Pacific strategy of the United States," said the article.

    The US Asia-Pacific strategy is a long-term and consistent one,which is to maintain peace and security under US domination, obtain commercial access to this region, ensure free navigation and prevent the rise of any hegemonic force or alliance, it said.

    "Since George W. Bush took office in 2001, the US government has put more stress on power politics and the use of force in its strategic approaches, with maintaining Asia-Pacific stability under US domination as a basic strategic concept. This is the coreconcept in the adjustment of the US military's Asia-Pacific strategy," said the article.

    One of the main aims in the adjustment of the US military Asia-Pacific strategy is enhancing the capability of long-distance deployment and maneuverability of US troops stationed overseas, itsaid.

    "Bush has stressed that the use of force should be based on the principle of 'quick in and quick out.'"

    With the improvement of the capability of long-distance deployment and mobility of US forces, the United States began to cut back on 'stationed forces' in the Asia-Pacific region, while strengthening its capability of 'entering at any time,'" it said.

    "At the same time, the United States is attempting to replace the traditional Asia-Pacific bilateral alliances with the open new alliance concept by taking advantage of the Sept. 11 events," according to the article.

    Objectively, the adjustment of the US military strategy towards the Asia-Pacific is of both positive and negative significance to peace and stability of this region, it said.

    "On the one hand, the emergence of terrorism, proliferation of weapons, and increase of transnational crime has brought the post-Cold War world community more non-traditional security threats than traditional ones."

    Improving the long-distance deployment capability and maneuverability of US forces stationed overseas will undoubtedly play a positive role in maintaining non-traditional security, it said.

    However, the article believed that the adjustment of the US military strategy towards the Asia-Pacific is also a hidden menace to peace and stability in the region.

    "The Asia-Pacific region features concentrated 'hot spots,' different cultural values and large gaps between the rich and the poor. The emphasis of the 'US factor' in international relations in this region will not only complicate relations between Asia-Pacific powers but also make it harder for Asia-Pacific nations to independently deal with their domestic and international problems," it added. Enditem

(China Daily)