Rebalancing in Asia-Pacific not targeted at any country: US

Not aimed at rebuffing or trying to limit growth & development of any one country

The US' rebalancing strategy and more focus on the Asia-Pacific region is not targeted against any country, the Pentagon said today, amidst concerns raised by China over the move.

"The (Defence) secretary has made it clear on his trip that the defense strategy, which includes a rebalancing and more focus on the Asia-Pacific region, is not targeted at any one country in that region, but rather the region as a whole," Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt John Kirby told reporters at a news conference.

"We have significant security interests in the Asia-Pacific, significant security commitments to allies and partners in the region. It's not aimed at rebuffing or trying to limit the growth and development of any one country," he said.

"Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has made it clear that the peaceful, prosperous rise of China is a good thing, not just for that region, but for the world," Kirby said in response to a question.

"As for the timeliness, I think we would all agree that the defense strategy as written and as endorsed by not only this department, but by the President, is absolutely timely. This is the right time to be looking at the Asia-Pacific region to renew our commitments there and to rebalance our resources and our attention there," Kirby argued.

In a major re-posturing, US on June 2 had announced it will shift the bulk of its naval fleet including as many as six aircraft carriers to the Pacific by 2020 as part of new strategic focus on Asia.