US admiral 'more optimistic' about Sino-US relations

The head of US forces in the Pacific said he is "more optimistic" about Sino-US relations following his second trip to the country in the past year, but urged Beijing for more transparency in military matters, the Wall Street Journal reported. Admiral Timothy Keating told reporters: "[the Chinese] specifically have no hegemonic intentions, they do not have any expansion strategy, they advocate a peaceful rise." His remarks to reporters are thought to suggest relations between the two countries are improving following an incident last November in which the aircraft carrier the USS Kitty Hawk and five other US ships were denied entry to Hong Kong. At that time, Keating said China’s action showed it was not meeting its obligations as a "responsible nation."