US official defends ‘Indo-Pacific’

BEIJING: A top US administration officials has defended the use of the term “Indo-Pacific”, saying that it makes sense as it denotes a regional perspective.

National security advisor HR McMaster told China’s national broadcaster CCTV that it also means economic integration.

“If you just look at the geography and trade routes, the trade flows east and west across the Indo-Pacific region. As you can see, it is a region more and more integrated economically,” McMaster said. “It makes sense in terms of the construct to look at it as a regional perspective,” he added.

“There are other ways to look at it, as the Eurasian landmass and so forth, because of this trip, because the president will be engaging leaders across the IndoPacific region, it is a useful construct,” the US official added.

China has so far avoided wading into the question on naming the region Indo-Pacific.

“We have indeed noted that recently this concept has been mentioned many times. I think that whatever concept or term is employed, we must by no means lose sight of such an objective fact: this region has grown into the most vibrant region with the greatest potential in the world and serves as a major engine for global economic growth,” foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying had said on Tuesday.