But, let me be clear on the following point. Our emphasis on multilateral cooperative efforts in no way signals a weakening of America’s bilateral alliances. Indeed, for most of the last half of the 20th century, the United States has relied upon a network of bilateral alliances with South Korea, Australia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Japan, to provide regional security and protect American interests. We will continue to follow this alliance strategy.

What is proposed today allows us to build on those binational alliances to broaden, deepen, and enhance regional cooperation as part of a flexible regional security framework. And this certainly does not imply a reduced American commitment to the region over time. In fact, U.S. military forces operating in the Asia-Pacific region will continue to be an important foundation of regional security. Not only is it in America’s interests to remain heavily engaged in the Asian-Pacific region, I believe it is in yours as well.

It is also important to stress that America’s multilateral approach to the Asia-Pacific region is not intended to exclude, isolate, or to contain China. Quite the contrary. In fact, we earnestly hope that China will accept invitations to join in exercises either as participants or as observers, in much the same way that China participates in economic and financial regimes such as the World Trade Organization, and as a member of APEC.

Over time, I am hopeful that the Chinese will come to realize the positive benefits achieved through participation in multilateral training exercises, as well as working with their neighbors in areas of common interest. Indeed, I intend to raise these issues with General Fu in Beijing the day after tomorrow.

Let me conclude my remarks today with an example of one PACOM-sponsored multilateral exercise which holds great promise to demonstrate how you, in this room, can plan, train, and exercise your armed forces together in the future.

TEAM CHALLENGE, scheduled for next spring and summer, is an umbrella exercise that draws together existing bilateral exercises into a linked regional exercise. It is designed to improve U.S. interoperability with the armed forces of Australia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand using a UN Chapter VII and NEO [Non-combatant Evacuation Operation] scenario.

The goal is to train a USCINCPAC contingency Joint Task Force to deploy rapidly in support of a smaller scale contingency. It will be conducted in two phases including [exercises] TANDEM THRUST for Phase I and COBRA GOLD, . . . and BALIKATAN for Phase II. This is an ambitious exercise, but it represents only a fraction of the training opportunities available to build a foundation of cooperation for the region. It’s a good start, and one which I fully support.

Fellow Chiefs of Defense, I hope that when we all leave Hawaii, we will do so with a renewed sense of purpose and a sense of optimism that we are doing the right thing for peace and security in the region. I am confident that we are embarking on a path that facilitates closer regional cooperation for all of our respective countries and will allow us to build a flexible regional security framework capable of meeting the challenges of the future.

Gentlemen, it is an honor to be with you today. Good luck, and Aloha