China's aggressive territory claims matter of concern: US

The US today said China's aggressive posturing over territorial claims in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions was a matter of concern that America shared with India.

"China seems to be asserting itself more and more with respect to the kinds of territorial claims. They seem to be taking a much more aggressive approach to the near-sea areas recently... There is growing concern over it," US Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen told reporters in New Delhi.

"In my perspective, we (the US) must work with India in this regard as in my recent interactions with its leadership, India too has expressed similar concerns," Mullen said after his meeting with Indian leadership over improving bilateral military ties.

The US Admiral gave the example of recent public statements by China about US Navy operating in the Yellow Sea.

Noting that the US Navy was in the international waters, Mullen said despite such remarks by China, the US would continue to operate in the international waters there.

Mullen said the US believed China was shifting focus from land-centric to air and maritime capabilities.

"Fairly recently I have gone from being curious about where China is headed to being concerned about it. One of the characteristics that does not exist as far as China appears militarily is transparency. In fact, there is opaqueness to it that we continue to really scratch our heads about from a military standpoint," he added.

Compared to the relationship the US had with India, Mullen said, his country had "virtually no relationship" with the Chinese military.

"If we have such relationship, we can agree on and disagree on, and also we can learn from each other," he said

Noting that Pacific and Indian Ocean regions were critical to economic and trade activities, he said stability in these two regions was absolutely vital.