U.S., China seek to ease maritime tensions

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chinese officials tried to lessen tension over rights of free passage in the South China Sea, officials said.

Speaking to a meeting of Asian defense ministers in Vietnam, Gates urged them to honor the historic rights of free transit through international waters, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

In response, Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie called for "mutual trust" and said countries in the region had no need to fear his nation's military, the newspaper said.

China and Japan recently were embroiled in a dispute over fishing rights and undersea resources that saw China cut off supplies of rare earth minerals vital to Japanese industry.

"We have a national interest in freedom of navigation, in unimpeded economic development and commerce, and in respect for international law," Gates told the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, meeting in an expanded format that included China and Russia.

Liang told the conference his country's military policy in the region is defensive in nature.

"China's defense development is not aimed to challenge or threaten anyone, but to ensure its security and promote international and regional peace and stability," he said.