Deployment of Hospital Ship 'Mercy' and Current Pacific Command Operations

MR. BOOKBINDER: Good morning and welcome to the Foreign Press Center. We are very pleased this morning to have the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Gary Roughead, with us today. And Admiral Roughead will be talking about the deployment of the hospital ship Mercy and current Pacific Command operations. Admiral Roughead will make opening remarks and then he'll take your questions.

Thank you. Admiral, please.

ADM ROUGHEAD: Thank you very much, Joe, and thank you for the introduction. It's my normal practice to be traveling a lot, but to be traveling to the west. But it is a pleasure to be here in Washington for a fleet sailor to be here in Washington, as a visitor. But a little more than a year ago there was an immense international response to an incomprehensible amount of destruction in South Asia and Southeast Asia, following the tsunami of December of 2004. Hundreds of NGOs, the militaries of 21 nations, hundreds of airplanes and helicopters and ships delivered over 25 million pounds of relief supplies in just about six weeks. For the U.S. military, it was our largest relief operation since the Berlin airlift. And for the U.S. military, it was our biggest involvement in Southeast Asia since Vietnam.

At its peak, about 15,000 U.S. troops were involved in the relief effort. It was an event that epitomized the generosity of our nation and the responsiveness of our nation, of the generosity and the responsiveness of the global community and its armed forces which came to assist and, of course, the many nongovernmental organizations that were part of that relief effort. And to me it was an incredible demonstration of just what is achievable when we all work together for the betterment of the human condition. It was also an event that showcased the importance of collective sea power and the agility and cooperation from the sea.

As the then-deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, I was intimately involved in the tsunami relief operation. And I feel strongly about what we did. I feel very good about what we did and I am reassured of the importance of such operations in the future. Our Navy, our Department of Defense and our nation truly believe in humanitarian assistance and humanitarian disaster relief and we're not strangers to it. In the 1990s, we provided support in a large relief operation in Bangladesh that was called Operation Sea Angel. Most recently in Pakistan, we provided relief in the earthquake disaster there and also recently in the Philippines of this year and last year, the mudslides that took place after the heavy rains.

And that's not to mention the routine interactions that we have in relief and assistance and community involvement. They have always been part of our naval operations and our port visits to foreign shores and also domestically. We're committed to bringing security and help and hope to those in need to our neighbors in the longstanding tradition of rendering assistance at sea and assistance from the sea. Hence, the Mercy deployment, an exciting and important opportunity to assist friends and neighbors in the Asia Pacific Region and to facilitate the security and stability and the prosperity, particularly in the maritime domain in this region in which we all share common interests.

Almost 900 feet long, the Mercy left San Diego on the 24th of April for a five-month deployment and mission in humanitarian assistance to Southeast Asia and she'll visit the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh and East Timor. She carries a U.S. medical team made up of medical professionals from our Army, our Navy and our Air Force. She will have onboard, two H-60 helicopters from one of our helicopter squadrons in Guam. She will have Navy construction engineers onboard from our naval construction battalion in Guam. She will have representatives of the U.S. public health service aboard and also several members of nongovernmental organizations. So they comprise of an interagency and international and a multi-specialized team of medical professionals capable of providing a wide range of services onboard and ashore.

The medical capability that Mercy will bring to the region includes basic medical evaluation and treatment, dental and optometry screenings, eyewear distribution, preventive medicine treatment, general and ophthalmology surgery, public health services and even veterinary services. Together the Mercy team is prepared to administer to medical and humanitarian assistance needs through medical, dental, civic and construction action projects. It's an unprecedented group of volunteers and professionals, civilian and military men and women. They are dedicated to saving lives and restoring hope and spreading goodwill.

The Mercy deployment is a demonstration of U.S. commitment to the region and of the commitment to the people of the region with whom we share common bonds as stakeholders in the Pacific. Because we are a Pacific nation, we have strong links to the Pacific.

Many Americans have family, friends and coworkers with roots in the Asia Pacific. In the census of 2000, almost 12 million Americans, 4.2 percent of our diverse population, identified itself as entirely or partially Asian. And that included 57,000 Bangladeshis, 63,000 Indonesians and 2.3 million Filipinos. Today, more than 13.5 million Americans claim Asian heritage and some 8.7 million residents of the United States were born in Asia.

And closer to me, as one who wears the uniform of my country, over 276,000 Asian Americans are veterans of our armed forces. Nor can we forget that in the last century more than 190,000 Americans have given their lives in Asia and the wars fought there.

But the Mercy is also about maintaining the flexibility and readiness to respond to a wide range of situations and contingencies. The deployment highlights the global reach of our Navy and it helps to ensure that the U.S. military's responses are ready. And that response is enabled by the agility and flexibility that we enjoy on the sea.

But again, it's a cooperative endeavor that has focused on the host nation desires to bring assistance to parts of the countries in need. It's an endeavor that includes the host nation and non-host nation participation. Several non-host nations have been invited to participate and join in the interagency and international team that we will deploy on the Mercy. Canada is providing some dental professionals and both Australia and Singapore plan to send teams during various periods of the mission.

But I think perhaps the most unique aspect of this mission is that Mercy and her military professionals are being joined by nongovernmental organizations. We have worked together in crises in the past. This, however, is a premeditated and proactive partnership not initiated by crisis but simply by a desire to assist our neighbors. I believe that this model of cooperation and deliberate planning with the NGOs and the nations that are participating is the way of the future.

The partnership in the first phase of the operation in the Philippines will involve two different nongovernmental organizations onboard the ship, the Aloha Medical Mission based in Honolulu and Project Hope. There are also six additional NGOs that will be participating from the shore that are established in the Philippines and they will take advantage of the facilities that Mercy will bring. And arrangements are in work currently for other NGOs that will participate in the other phases of the operation.

I believe that this opportunity will achieve the refinement of the interagency and international operating procedures, standard operating procedures, for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief that began last year with the post-tsunami relief efforts. Mercy was heavily involved then. Originally she was deployed to respond to the tsunami in Aceh, but she was subsequently dispatched to Nias Island to provide relief for the earthquake that shook up part of Indonesia. All told, she spent five months in Southeast Asia and in the Pacific islands providing humanitarian assistance.

In all, during that deployment, the Mercy team treated more than 107,000 patients. They performed 466 surgeries, 6,000 dental procedures, tens of thousands of medical procedures, and distributed more than 4,000 pairs of eyeglasses.

So we're eager and excited to seize on this extraordinary opportunity that the Mercy deployment presents to our military and to our nation. We believe firmly in the importance and the value of this effort. This deployment, this international cooperation and interagency collaboration is in the longstanding tradition of rendering assistance from the sea and it demonstrates the real and true benefit of being able to take that capability from the sea to contribute to the well-being that all in the region deserve.

Thank you very much, and I look forward to your questions.

MR. BOOKBINDER: Okay. What I'd like to do before the Admiral takes questions, I would just like to welcome our guests from the embassies of India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Thank you all for coming. Please wait for the microphone, and when you get the microphone please identify yourself and your media organization. Okay, let's start with the Philippines.

QUESTION: Hello, my name is Jose Katigbak of the Philippines Star. Could you give us a timeline on your visit to the Philippines (a); (b) what would be the criterion of treating patients and would World War II veterans have precedence over the facilities?

ADM ROUGHEAD: The Mercy will arrive in the southern Philippines at the end of the month. And we have had an advance team working with the host nation and with the NGOs that are already present there to determine the types of services that will be required. We have not set forth any prioritization by category, but we are looking to treat and provide assistance to those that are most in need and that has been worked out with the people on the ground with the advance team that we've had present there.

MR. BOOKBINDER: Okay, let's go to India in the second row, please.

QUESTION: Raghibur Goyal, India Globe and Asia Today. First, what role is India playing in this mission? And also, I think this is the first time ever you have been doing this kind of mission in the area. And second, how China is going to take this as a goodwill or because so many exercises have taken place in the area, so what do you think the future is because China is building up in every way as far as military-to-military, navy and air force is concerned.

ADM ROUGHEAD: As I said, we have used Mercy before in the region but never in this more what I would say proactive way, and we're very excited about that. And I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the great contribution that India made in the response to the tsunami of last year. We have extended an invitation to the Indian military medicine to participate in the mission and that is being worked as we speak.

With regard to the perceptions of what Mercy is doing, Mercy is on a mission of humanitarian assistance. We, as I said, are very, very pleased with the involvement, with the support that we have been receiving from the host nations. How countries perceive what Mercy is doing should be perceived as a mission of humanitarian assistance.

MR. BOOKBINDER: Okay. We'll go to Russia in the third row.

QUESTION: ITAR-TASS News Agency of Russia, Alexander Plakhov. I have a question that relates to the recent U.S.-Russian naval exercises near Guam. So can you give your assessment of these naval exercises and what do you think of such cooperation? Are there any new plans, especially joint exercises just like humanitarian aid or something like that?

ADM ROUGHEAD: The recent exercise that was conducted in Guam between Russian naval forces and the U.S. Navy also was focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It was a very, very good exercise. There was a portion of the exercise that we did ashore in Guam and then we did some exercises with our ships and helicopters. The commanders who were involved were very pleased with the activity that was undertaken and I believe that those exercises are very, very helpful for all nations to participate in because, as we found in the tsunami of last year, there is no warning for many of these natural disasters and you have to come prepared and the only way to prepare is to practice and to work out the procedures. So we are always eager to pursue opportunities where we can exercise those types of procedures.

MR. BOOKBINDER: Okay, we'll go to Japan.

QUESTION: Thank you. Joshua Rogin, Asahi Shimbun, Japanese newspaper. I want to ask you about the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, specifically the move of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. I'm wondering if you could comment on the change that this will cause on the role of the U.S. forces in Okinawa. And looking forward, what do you see as the role of Okinawa, Guam and Hawaii, respectively, in terms of planning for a contingency in Northeast Asia?

ADM ROUGHEAD: The realignment that's taking place and the discussions that have taken place between the Japanese Government and the U.S. Government have been key to realigning and better allowing a positioning of forces to be more responsive to the types of contingencies that can take place in the future.

We're very pleased in the Navy with the decision by the Government of Japan to approve the further deployment of the nuclear aircraft carrier George Washington to Yokosuka. It brings tremendous capability to the region both in response and capability, and we're very, very pleased with that.

The realignment of the Marines to Guam and other force posture changes that are taking place in the Pacific better position our forces to respond and realign them to the current century.

QUESTION: Do you think Guam will increase in importance?

ADM ROUGHEAD: With regard to the role of Guam, Guam is a very, very capable set of facilities that we have and it is well positioned in the Western Pacific from which to move in many, many directions. So I see the role of Guam in the future of being one of increasing importance and value.

MR. BOOKBINDER: Okay, we'll go to the Philippines.

QUESTION: Admiral, just a follow-up over what you said. There are two NGO joining you. Are they aboard the ship going to the Philippines right now or they'll be joining you on their own in the Philippines?

ADM ROUGHEAD: They are not at full strength. Most of the group will join in the Philippines once the ship arrives in the area in which it will be operating. And as I mentioned, there are six other NGOs ashore that will also be there to take advantage of the incredible capability that Mercy has onboard; the equipment, the operating rooms and all that will come together.

And as the ship moves from location to location, there will be changes in the participants from the individual NGOs as well as the NGOs themselves because recall that many of the volunteers who serve with the NGOs are only able to do this for short periods of time so there will be a constant changing of the NGO personnel onboard the ship. And we have worked very closely with the NGOs and host nations to facilitate that exchange of people because they will be changing as they leave their work, wherever they may be, to join this very, very important mission, and then they'll spend some time in a particular area and then they'll go back to their normal occupation.

MR. BOOKBINDER: We'll go to Taiwan in the second row.

QUESTION: Charles Snyder of the Taipei Times. One of the things in terms of China's military buildup, one of the things that a lot of people are concerned with here is their efforts to deny access to your fleet in case of a military action in the area. I was just wondering, is this a concern of yours? How are you dealing with it and will the realignment of the forces in Japan and some of the changes foreseen in the QDR help to completely offset that or what? Is that a concern of yours?

ADM ROUGHEAD: I look at our fleet as a global fleet. We operate extensively -- many of our forces operate in the Central Command area of operations and our positioning and the posture in which we maintain our forces is designed to rapidly respond to a range of contingencies, whatever and wherever they may be, and I am very, very confident in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Pacific Fleet's capability, to perform whatever missions are assigned it.

MR. BOOKBINDER: Okay. Are there additional questions? Yes, I think that's the Philippines.

QUESTION: Good morning, sir. I'm Captain Reconomo from the Philippine Embassy. The USS Mercy mission is a regular activity of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, as I know it, back in the Philippines, in terms of providing humanitarian assistance. My question is what other activities does the Pacific Fleet have in this particular part of the region, particularly in the maritime waters -- I refer in particular to the Sulawesi Sea -- in terms of addressing the cross-border movement of the Jemaah Islamiyah?

ADM ROUGHEAD: We have many activities in the Pacific Fleet that are focused on operating with our friends and partners in the region. This summer there will also be a series of exercises that we call CARAT, Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training. There will also be a multinational exercise at the end of this month, naval exercise, called SEACAT, which is Southeast Asian Cooperative for Anti-Terrorism. Those exercises are ongoing. We work with our partners in the region on maritime security initiatives, all focused on ensuring that we share a common view of what is moving on the oceans, what is moving on the waters in the region.

I think it's very important, however, to point out that we are very, very mindful of the sovereignty of the nations in the region, of the interests that they have and the responsibilities that they have. And our exercise program, the cooperative efforts that we are involved in, always take that into account. And we very much appreciate the opportunity to conduct these types of exercises in the region.

MR. BOOKBINDER: Okay. Are there additional questions? We'll go to India in the second row, please.

QUESTION: Sir, my question again is that U.S. must take into account and must be serious about the build up of China's military and they have doubled their budget now because yesterday there was a hearing at American Enterprise Institute and also Secretary Rumsfeld is also worried about. Let's say, one, where this fleet will be and if there's a conflict in the area, China attacks Taiwan or other neighboring countries or there is another tsunami, how long it would take for you to reach there in the region and how seriously are you talking this Chinese buildup?

ADM ROUGHEAD: As I look at the Chinese military modernization, particularly the modernization of their navy, they are increasing in capability and in capacity. It is rising at a level commensurate with their economic growth. But as I look at militaries, and I think what you're asking me is the China threat question, in my mind there are two things that are required for a threat: one, a capability to do harm; and the other is the intent to do harm.

That's why it is important for us to be able to engage with, in my case, the PLA Navy, to begin to gain insight into what that intent and purpose of that navy, that military, may be. And for example, as we speak, Admiral Fallon, the Pacific Command commander, is in China and he is having discussions with the military leadership there. But I do believe that it's important for there to be the transparency among military professionals that we can see what that intent may be.

QUESTION: How long it will take you to reach the region?

ADM ROUGHEAD: I believe that if you go back to the response of last year's tsunami, the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was off the coast of Indonesia in very, very short order. There was another expeditionary strike group that quickly joined and used some of its force in Indonesia and the rest moved on to Sri Lanka for assistance there.

But one of the things that I pay attention to at all times is responsiveness and the right positioning to be able to respond to a range of circumstances and conditions. And as I mentioned earlier, when it comes to national disasters -- natural disasters, we don't get a vote in that and we must be ready to respond and we are ready to respond. And we are ready to bring credible capability to the assistance that's required.

MR. BOOKBINDER: Let's go to the Philippines here in the front row.

QUESTION: Admiral, let me ask again. I want a timeline on when and where will you be in the Philippines, one. Secondly, are you going to be protected in suspect areas, for instance, how near to shore will you be docking?

ADM ROUGHEAD: The mission in the Philippines will begin on the 25th of this month. The mission will begin on the 25th of this month. The location is where the ship will be and the exact distance from shore. All of that will be worked by the mission commander. I'm very comfortable with the force protection measures that are in place. Not only are we getting support from the host nation, but this ship also has a force protection capability onboard, should it be required.

MR. BOOKBINDER: Okay. Are there any additional questions at this time? Yes, from China.

QUESTION: People's Daily, China. I notice Admiral Fallon is visiting Beijing. What is the specific purpose of this visit? The second question is that you judge China you said by two points: first, capability and secondly, intention. How do you assess China’s navy's capability? Do you think it's right for the United States or to the stability of the Asia Pacific region?

ADM ROUGHEAD: Admiral Fallon is having a series of discussions with military leaders and those are ongoing now. And the particulars of those are his purview. With regard to the capability of the PLA Navy, as I mentioned, I see an increasing capability, increasing modernization and changes in the way that the Navy has been operating. And as I said, it's rising at the level commensurate with the economic growth of China.

QUESTION: Do you think it’s a potential threat to the United States?

ADM ROUGHEAD: As I said, a threat is two things: capability and intent. And that's why it's so important for leadership of our militaries to be able to engage to meet, perhaps to exercise in some joint humanitarian assistance, disaster relief exercises, so that we can gain better understandings of intentions.

MR. BOOKBINDER: Okay. We'll go to Japan.

QUESTION: Thank you. Josh Rogin, Asahi Shimbun. I'd just like to follow up on that a little bit. Do you see an imbalance due to this trend across the Taiwan Straits between the naval capability that China is building up and our ability to have access to that area in the event of a contingency? And also, in the event that there were a contingency in this Taiwan Strait, what do you see as the role for Japan? Would Japan be involved and in what capacity?

ADM ROUGHEAD: I think our position on the situation in the Straits is clear. The use of force or any unilateral move is not helpful. I see the importance of being able to not cause an imbalance to take place and from that imbalance a miscalculation. So you know, with regard to the role of Japan, that's a matter for the Japanese Government.