China expects 'interests respect' from US

In the Asia-Pacific region:

CHINA: China has expressed mild concerns with the American plans to shift most of its warships to the Pacific region by 2020. Beijing called on to Washington to respect the interests of all sides in the Asia-Pacific, including that of China.

­Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Weimin said that the Asia-Pacific is the region where Chinese and the US interests overlap the most, so China expects Washington to play "a constructive role in the region."

"We also hope that the United States will respect the interests and concerns of all sides in the Asia-Pacific, including China," Chinese diplomat said.

This statement has become the first official reaction from Beijing to America's new plans for the South-Pacific voiced earlier.

On Saturday the US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta revealed Pentagon's plans to reposition its naval power so that up to 60 per cent of its warships would be deployed in the Asia-Pacific by the end of the decade from the current 50 per cent now.

Attending a security conference in Singapore Leon Panetta delivered a speech about the US-China relations.

AFP