Updated at 3:23 p.m., Monday, March 12, 2007
Fallon turns over Pacific Command
Advertiser Staff
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Fallon relinquished command to Air Force Lt. General Daniel P. Leaf, the deputy commander at Camp Smith, who will serve as acting commander until Adm. Timothy J. Keating is confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the job.
Fallon, 62, led Pacific Command for two years and is credited with building better military ties with China in an effort to improve communication and reduce the chance of a misunderstanding leading to a conflict.
Keating told a Senate confirmation panel last week that conflict with China over security in the region remains a possibility.
Keating said that if confirmed, he would engage in joint military exercises "of some sophistication and frequency" with the Chinese to try to ease tensions with the superpower, which is undergoing a military buildup.
"We would pay close attention to their development of their weapons systems and capabilities and keep a weather eye on whether they intend to use those against Taiwan," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing.
"If we ensure they are aware of our capabilities, our intent, I think that would go a long way to defusing a potential strike across the Straits of Taiwan."
Keating, 58, currently is head of the U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Keating is expected to take over Pacific Command by the end of the month.
