15:36 GMT, October 30, 2009 According to DD India, the commander of the US aircraft carrier group for the Asia-Pacific region on Friday asked China to develop greater transparency in its maritime activities to keep stability in the region.

Rear Adm Kevin Donegan, commander of the nuclear-powered George Washington Carrier Strike Group, told reporters during the group's first port call that the region is complex and the growth rate of China's military calls for concern.

"When we see a military growing at that rate, we are interested in transparency and understanding of the uses of that military," he said.

Donegan raised concerns not only over China's ambition for a self-built aircraft carrier, but also other advanced weaponry.

On earlier disputes between the US Navy and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, Donegan said they have and will stay away from China's territorial seas.

"We will operate in those areas that we are allowed to operate in, but we will not infringe on other people's territorial seas," he said, adding that territorial disputes should be dealt with politically.

In March, a US surveillance ship, the Impeccable, was surrounded by Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, with Beijing saying the Impeccable was conducting "activities in China's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea without China's permission."

Even so, Sino-US military ties are warming ahead of President Barack Obama's China visit next month, with high-ranking officials being invited to visit each other.


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