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Readout: U.S. Pacific Fleet Participates in Western Pacific Naval Symposium, April 21-23
23 April 2024
From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesperson Navy Commander Hayley Sims provided the following readout: U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Stephen Koehler led the U.S. delegation at the 19th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS), which was hosted this year in Qingdao, People’s Republic of China from 21-23 April.
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, chief of the Royal Australian Navy, center left, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China, April 22, 2024. Koehler met with Hammond to discuss the increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
240422-N-N0801-1002
Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, chief of the Royal Australian Navy, center left, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China, April 22, 2024. Koehler met with Hammond to discuss the increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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VIRIN: 240422-N-N0801-1002
WPNS is a multi-lateral organization with a history dating back to 1987. It includes 23 member and seven observer nations with maritime safety equities throughout the Western Pacific. Responsibility to host WPNS activities, including working groups and symposiums, is rotated annually among member countries on a volunteer basis. WPNS provides naval leaders the opportunity to discuss maritime matters of mutual interest while also giving the United States, allies, and partners an opportunity to underscore the importance of safe and responsible operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, meets with the Honorable Nicholas Burns, U.S. ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, left, and Brig. Gen. Patrick Teague, senior defense official and defense attaché, U.S. Defense Attaché Office-Beijing, China, in Beijing, China, April 22, 2024. Koehler met with Burns and Teague to discuss regional concerns, maritime issues, and areas for enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Adm. Mohammed Nazmul, chief of the Bangladesh Navy, left, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China, April 22, 2024. Koehler met with Hassan to discuss the increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center right, meets with Adm. Adoong Pan-iam, commander in chief of the Royal Thai Navy, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, in Qingdao, China, April 23, 2024. Koehler met with Pan-iam to discuss regional concerns, maritime issues, and areas for enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center right, meets with Adm. Benjamin Key, first sea lord and chief of the naval staff of the Royal Navy, center left, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China, April 22, 2024. Koehler met with King to discuss the increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Adm. Hu Zhongming, commander of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, right, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China, April 21, 2024. Koehler met with Hu to discuss the increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center right, meets with Vice Adm. Tran Thanh Nghiem, Vietnam Chief of Navy, center left, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, in Qingdao, China, April 23, 2024. Koehler met with Nghiem to discuss regional concerns, maritime issues, and areas for enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
Discussions during this year’s symposium included maritime issues, areas for cooperation, and military-to-military communication.
While at the symposium, Koehler met bilaterally with heads of Navy from Australia, Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, France, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Vietnam to discuss the importance of continued multi-lateral exercises and combined operations that enhance interoperability and boost deterrence in support of a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Consistent with standard practice at WPNS, Koehler also met with host-nation representatives from the People’s Liberation Army Navy to discuss the importance of maintaining open lines of communication, operational safety, and regional security concerns.
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Adm. Francisco Cubides, commander, Colombian Navy, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, in Qingdao, China, April 23, 2024. Koehler met with Cubides to discuss regional concerns, maritime issues, and areas for enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Adm. Yuan Huazhi, political commissar of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, in Qingdao, China, April 23, 2024. Koehler met with Yuan to discuss the increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center right, meets with Adm. Nicholas Vaujour, chief of the French Navy, center left, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China, April 22, 2024. Koehler met with Vaujour to discuss the increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, exchanges gifts with Vice Adm. Tran Thanh Nghiem, Vietnam Chief of Navy, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, in Qingdao, China, April 23, 2024. Koehler met with Nghiem to discuss regional concerns, maritime issues, and areas for enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, exchanges gifts with Adm. Mohammed Nazmul, chief of the Bangladesh Navy, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China, April 22, 2024. Koehler met with Hassan to discuss the increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
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Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, exchanges gifts with Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, chief of the Royal Australian Navy, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China, April 22, 2024. Koehler met with Hammond to discuss the increasing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
Admiral Koehler is traveling throughout the region after assuming command of U.S. Pacific Fleet earlier this month. He first made stops to Japan and Republic of Korea where he met with senior officials to discuss the increasing security challenge in the Indo-Pacific and the importance of trilateral cooperation between Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United States to demonstrate the strength and resolve against those who challenge regional stability.
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