We observed that the South China Sea is a potential source of Energy Supplies for china and that there is a contention among the nations in that region as to where the ownership and rights of access are to the South China Sea. And this is conceivable that china might seek to reestablish its claim there by military coercion and that could lead them into a confrontation with the United States desire to maintain free access. The best way of avoiding that military conflict is what we should see because the military conflict with china would be catastrophic for both nations, indeed for the whole region. So, we want to avoid that. I believe the best way of avoiding that is by maintaining a continuing to maintain a strong naval presence in the region, and by having an unambiguous commitment to doing that. I believe that our new National Security strategy is that unambiguous commitment, and i believe that the u. S. Navy is capable of maintaining that unambiguous military strength. As we sit he
Them into a confrontation with the United States desire to maintain free access. The best way of avoiding that military conflict is what we should see because the military conflict with china would be catastrophic for both nations, indeed for the whole region. So, we want to avoid that. I believe the best way of avoiding that is by maintaining a continuing to maintain a strong naval presence in the region, and by having an unambiguous commitment to doing that. I believe that our new National Security strategy is that unambiguous commitment, and i believe that the u. S. Navy is capable of maintaining that unambiguous military strength. As we sit here this morning aboard the uss macon island, in San Francisco bay, looking out to the pacific, it is easy to believe that the United States is, in fact, a Pacific Power and that to keep it that way we will maintain the best damn navy in the world. Thank you very much. applause speaker. Now im going to introduce our next speaker, Major General
Seminars such as this and the opportunity to network with our colleagues and each other on search and rescue and Public Safety. Its just a great addition to the already exciting opportunity to see the navy and our armed forces at work. Some of you may be wondering exactly why am i here, whats a ranger doing up here during fleet week. Ill try to explain that a little bit. This is our 40th anniversary of having a National Park in San Francisco. So, those strikev lands at the golden gate hills right behind that helicopter there are now part of the golden gate National Parks. And that happened 40 years ago when the army decided that those lands were no longer necessary for National Defense. So, that strategic entrance to this harbor was the last land that our troops and sailors and marines and soldiers would see if they departed for the Pacific Theater in world war ii and korea and vietnam, and also the first thing they would see upon returning back to the bay area. So, between the presidi
Relationships at our bases and stations and the ability to roll out and assist is something you would expect to work out pretty well. Some of that has matured, in fact. In the state of california we have established a number of agreements, most particularly the wildfires where both third fleet and the Expeditionary Force assign helicopters in the need we are requested, its preplanned, our pilots are trained, we have the gary thats necessary and we can respond. Most of the things we have done in the past, though, have come on almost random occurrences in the event of a complex catastrophe, so that is a little bit different for us. There has been movement within dod and we have grown and matured certainly our presence in the fema regions has expanded, new capabilities have been delivered to the states, and we have developed the much more responsive and functional command structure, i believe, with the dual status commander and thats somebody who can Bridge National guard and active or fe
Of the San Francisco bay area. Fleet week for many years in San Francisco was a somewhat [inaudible] affair and it has been transformed into this great coming together by the military and the first responders, the great coming together of our uniformed personnel and a great [speaker not understood] of San Francisco. This amazing transformation in the last few years was due primarily to the vision and the dedication of three people, george and Charlotte Schultz and mike myers. Id like to pause to thank all three of them for this work. applause and in april of 1996, my last year as secretary of defense, i met one morning intelligence briefing at 7 oclock along with general charlie. The previous day general hughes had briefed us that the Chinese Military were to begin extensive military maneuvers in the taiwan strait. This morning we were stunned to learn that they had fired two missiles that landed just 10 miles off the coast of taiwan. The taiwanese had a president ial election underway