Media Availability with Secretary Carter at the ASEAN Defense Ministers-Plus Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

      MR. COOK:  Thanks for joining us, everyone.  The secretary will deliver some opening remarks, and then we'll have time for a few questions.  So if you could limit the number of questions that you -- (inaudible).

 

      Mr. Secretary?

 

      SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ASH CARTER:  Thanks, Peter.  Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for being here this afternoon.  First, I would like to thank our Malaysian hosts for their hospitality during this conference.  And I'm especially thanking Minister Hishammuddin for his strong leadership over a productive year for ASEAN, including the historic (inaudible) -- the ASEAN community at the end of the year.

 

      At the Shangri-La Dialogue earlier this year, I emphasized the need to continue to build and share an inclusive regional architecture in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.  [inaudible] strong enough, and capable enough and -- effective enough to ensure that all nations of the region can continue to rise, to prosper and determine their own destiny, in short -- (inaudible).

 

      To realize that future, we need a security architecture that is inclusive and open.  It should respect rights, not might.  It should reward cooperation, not coercion.  It should be based on international law and globally accepted norms.  In that future, ASEAN will continue to play a central role.

 

      This is my third trip to the region as secretary of defense of the United States.  President Obama will be traveling here in the coming weeks.  This is a region vital to America's future, which is why our rebalance to the Asia-Pacific remains top priority.  I found this meeting so -- and this forum -- so useful that when Australia's representative this -- earlier today, proposed that we meet every year and not every other year, I seconded her suggestion.

 

      So I look forward to another successful meeting in the future.  My engagement with ADMM-Plus also reflects the rich and close defense relationships the United States enjoys across the region.  And even under difficult security challenges for sure, we still hope for and take advantage of opportunities to cooperate.  That's a credit to this young organization's trajectory.

 

      With each minister I met, I discussed a range of vital security issues, including counterterrorism, cybersecurity, non-proliferation, ISIL, search and rescue, disaster response and concerns about reclamation and militarization in the South China Sea.  I noted that every speaker before me raised this issue.  That issue also played a great part in many of my bilateral conversations with fellow ministers here and all over the world.

 

      I understand this is a difficult issue for many countries, but I'm confident that this forum will continue to play a useful role in resolving these tensions through dialogue and cooperation.  I reminded everyone that the United States does not take sides in these maritime disputes, but we do take the side of peaceful resolution under international law.  We urge all claimants -- all claimants to permanently halt land reclamation, stop the construction of new facilities and cease further militarization of disputed maritime features.

 

      President Xi said in Washington, speaking for one claimant, that China is, quote, "committed to respecting and upholding the freedom of navigation and overflight that countries enjoy according to international law," unquote.  He pledged that China, as he said, does not intend to pursue militarization of outposts in the South China Sea.  This is a positive statement, but we all must mean what we say.

 

      I also might mention, regarding China, that during his visit to Washington in October, President Xi also invited me to visit China.  And yesterday, here at Kuala Lumpur, I told my count -- my Chinese counterpart that I accepted it, and I look forward to a visit this spring to China, and I appreciate that opportunity.

 

      For decades, the United States has exercised its rights, through our Freedom of Navigation operations.  And I have said many times before, the United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law permits.  Freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce are not new concepts.  They're not theoretical or aspirational goals.  In this part of the world, these were rules that worked for decades to promote peace and prosperity.

 

      Tomorrow, joined by my friend, Minister Hishammuddin, I'll be flying out to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, which is conducting routine operations while transiting the South China Sea.  Teddy Roosevelt's presence -- presence there and our visit is a symbol of our commitment to our rebalance and the importance of the Asia-Pacific to the United States.

 

      Our brave men and women are doing what the U.S. Navy does best, preserving the stability and security that continues to allow so many in this region, all of us, to rise and prosper together.

 

      With that, I'll take a few questions and -- (inaudible).

 

      MR. COOK:  (Inaudible) -- in your direction.

 

      Q:  Thank you, Mr. Secretary.  Yesterday, you met with Minister Zhang, and he spoke of the bottom line, beyond which China would defend its sovereign territory.  What can you tell us about this bottom line?  Does it raise the risk of a miscalculation and ultimately, conflict?

 

      SEC. CARTER:  Well, I think first, I'd take you back to President Xi's statement in Washington, in which he indicated that China did not have the intention to militarize outposts in the South China Sea, and I think that's the fundamental point.

 

      More generally, in terms of the possibility of a conflict in the region, I would point to a couple of things.  One is that the United States and China just concluded -- in fact, during that same visit -- two additional confidence building measures.  Therefore a total of four.  So we think that avoiding the kinds of incidents that I think you're talking about and misunderstandings not only through the United States and China, but among militaries in general all over the world, is an important thing to do.  In fact, that kind of confidence building measure was one of the subjects that the ASEAN Defense Ministers-Plus discussed in its working groups and discuss further today.

 

      MR. COOK:  Next question from (inaudible).

 

      Q:  Hello, Secretary Carter.  I am (inaudible) from Taiwan News (inaudible).

 

      Now, you talk about building an infrastructure that respects right, not might.  But (inaudible) in ASEAN, there are concerns.  They are wondering why -- (inaudible) -- the South China Sea, why is U.S. going in heavy by sending its warship -- (inaudible).  You know, it is a real message to -- you know, control Freedom of Navigation, do you need to send a destroyer?  And how often do you want to do that?

 

      SEC. CARTER:  So, let me just remind you, that the presence of U.S. Naval vessels in the South China Sea is not new.  That's been going on for decades.  What's new is dredging, and reclamation and militarization.  That's what's new this year, it's the scale of reclamation and militarization.

 

      U.S. operations -- Naval operations in the South China Sea is not new.  So, I think it's -- like -- (inaudible) -- there, I think the thing that is the new development this year, is the scale of reclamation and the militarization.  And the fact that, principally, China in the last year, which has done it most intensively in the last year, is not the only one who plans to do this, is taking the step.

 

      That is what has created the new climate.  U.S. freedom of navigation operations are not new, either in the South China Sea, or I should add, around the world.  We conduct them from the South China Sea right up to the Arctic.  And it's an important value for countries all over the world to make sure that freedom of navigation in the world’s waterways is something that is respected.  And the United States has demonstrated that here in the South China Sea and around the world, and other navies do for decades.

 

      So, that's not new.  What's new is the scale of reclamation and militarization.  That's concerning to many partners, including the United States, and that's why we're calling for all plans to halt -- (inaudible).

 

      MR. COOK:  Gordon Lubold, Wall Street Journal.

 

      Q:  Hi, Mr. Secretary.

 

      You came in here, presuming the expectation that other nations would support the U.S. position on the South China Sea, but it seems clear that those nations caved under pressure from China not to support this joint statement in this agreement.

 

      What happened here, and do you -- how do you plan to move forward on this issue given that?  And does this suggest that the U.S. is maybe pushing this issue too far?

 

      SEC. CARTER:  I have no expectation that everyone would agree on the South China Sea or any other issue.  That's the reason for this forum, is to discuss these issues.  So, I have no expectations on the agreement there.

 

      With respect to the joint statement, that is something that ASEAN were encouraged to discuss.  Obviously, they weren't able to reach a consensus, and I -- that reflects, I think, the level of concern that was reflected in conversation about activities in the South China Sea.  Or if so, that -- I (inaudible) no expectation that there will be an agreement.

 

      I -- it was very clearly an issue of discussion and an issue of concern by countries in the meeting, because everybody raised it.  And so, that -- that's just reflected, and as I said, throughout the meeting, it was a persistent topic.

 

      And to me, that says that that's something we would always pay attention to and work on, that's the reason why the United States is taking it -- and has (inaudible).

 

      MR. COOK:  Thank you.  Think you have time for one more -- (inaudible).

 

      Q:  Thank you, Mr. Secretary.  In regards to the joint statement, today, China's -- (inaudible) -- certain countries outside of -- (inaudible) Asia.  Do you feel responsible for the cancellation of the joint statement? What is -- what is your reaction?

 

      SEC. CARTER:  Well, my reaction is, I don't know the origins of that particular quotation.  I've heard that report.  But I'll just repeat what I just said, which is the issue of the joint statement was something ASEAN managed to decide.

 

      To me, this was a very successful meeting.  We discussed the South China Sea, which is the point.  Very productive, both as a group and bilaterally.  So, I'm very satisfied with the discussions that I had with all parties here -- (inaudible) -- were as well.

 

      The ASEAN members who were preparing the joint statement would have to speak for themselves about that.  The United States was not part of that process.  Obviously, this South China Sea -- (inaudible) -- discussion was clear to everyone, and we respect the fact that people wanted to discuss it.  It's an expression of concern about the -- worthy of concern.  And really, the threats to the -- (inaudible).

 

      MR. COOK:  Thanks, everybody.