The United States will renew its naval power across the Asia-Pacific region and stay "vigilant" in the face of China's growing military, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday.
On the eve of a trip to Asia that will include stops in Singapore, Vietnam and India, Panetta said in a speech that the country's future depended on ensuring security throughout the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
"America is a maritime nation, and we are returning to our maritime roots," Panetta told graduates of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
"One of the key projects that your generation will have to face is sustaining and enhancing American strength across the great maritime region of the Asia-Pacific," he said.
