A US Naval commander says his government is committed to preserving peace and stability in the Pacific region.
US Coast Guard official; Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga; and Commander Andy Strickland, Commanding Officer of the USS Shoup. Photo: RNZ Pacific /Fili Sagapolutele
The USS Shoup has visited American Samoa as part of a trip to re-enforce that message.
Commander Andy Strickland said the stop in Pago Pago followed patrol missions in partnership with Vanuatu and Fiji.
He said the Navy was operating in alongside US Coast Guard partners to ensure prosperity in the area.
"The US Navy maintains a presence in the Indo-Pacific region to help preserve peace and security and to further partnerships with friends and allies. All countries in this region have experienced economic prosperity largely because of security and stability that exists at sea."
American Samoan Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga thanked the US Navy for their protection and committment to enforce the law in the territory.
The USS Shoup is the first US military vessel to visit Pago Pago since his administration took office in 2013.
Lolo says the visit was reassuring for American Samoans.
"Thank you for making an effort to be here. [To] reassure us the committment by the US Government to protect out people, our rights, our property. Now you're here to enforce our fishing laws and to ensure that we are secure."
USS Shoup Photo: US Navy
The governor mentioned, without elaborating, several concerns that the US destroyer was looking into around the Pacific.
He then warned of the impact China was having in the region.
"The influence of the Chinese around the Pacific is very, very detrimental to our own survival. Their ideology is quite different from ours. We are surrounded by every nation that is either independent or influenced by other foreign powers."
