U.S., Japan, India hold first trilateral dialogue

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States, Japan and India held their first trilateral dialogue here on Monday over a "wide range" of regional and global issues of common interest.

"These discussions mark the beginning of a series of consultations among our three governments, who share common values and interests across the Asia-Pacific and the globe," the State Department said in a statement.

Responding to the prevailing assumption that the meeting was aimed at containing China, Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell dismissed the idea as "preposterous."

Campbell said they would discuss at the event a number of issues, including "larger and strategic development in Asia," related to economy and military.

The assistant-secretary level meeting was co-chaired by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, who is on a three-day visit in the United States, said his meeting with his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton has affirmed that "Japan and the United States are deepening a strategic relationship with India."

The three nations agreed to meet again in Tokyo in 2012 to continue their deliberations.

Indian Missile Launch and US Meeting Elicits Chinese Rebuke

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2822679/posts

The forthcoming launch of an advanced Indian missile has elicited a rebuke of India by the Chinese Communist Party daily.

The Indian press fussed about an editorial in the Chinese Communist Party organ, the People's Daily, that expressed concern over the forthcoming February launch of India's new Agni-V missile. This missile with a 6000 km range has MIRV capability, meaning that it can carry multiple warheads. According to the Chinese daily, the launch reflected India's engagement in balance of power politics as well as Indian aspiration to strengthen its military and acquire a military clout commensurate with its status as a great power.

This would be tolerable, argued the Chinese, if India had not joined the American scheme of "encircling China" by drawing closer to Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan. This is exacerbated by their cooperation over the issue of exploring for resources in the South China Sea over which Beijing claims sovereignty as historical waters.

China feels that India would be better served in her aspirations for greater role on the world stage if she abandoned faith in the new US policy for the Pacific and stopped pursuing China, the imaginary enemy.

China obviously does not buy the American protestations that the trilateral meeting in Washington between the US, India and Japan that started today is not meant to contain China.

The Times of India agreed on this point with China: "China will be very much on the mind when senior officials from India, Japan and US meet in Washington on Monday in the first trilateral dialogue that is expect to focus on maritime security and humanitarian assistance for disasters."

(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...

The United States, Japan and India held their first trilateral dialogue here on Monday over a "wide range" of regional and global issues of common interest. "These discussions mark the beginning of a series of consultations among our three governments, who share common values and interests across the Asia-Pacific and the globe," the State Department said in a statement.

That's Burocratese for "China".

Responding to the prevailing assumption that the meeting was aimed at containing China, Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell dismissed the idea as "preposterous."

That's Burocratese for "Bingo!"

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