Singapore (CNN) -- As part of a "rebalancing" with Asia, the United States will enhance military-to-military cooperation with China while also boosting the capabilities of its allies in the region, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Saturday. Panetta detailed the new defense strategy to a gathering of Asia's military leaders, saying the majority of U.S. warships would move to Asia. "By 2020 the Navy will reposture its forces from today's roughly 50-50 split from the Pacific and Atlantic to a 60-40 split in those oceans," Panetta said. "We will also invest -- invest in cyber, invest in space, invest in unmanned systems, invest in special forces operations," he said. "We will invest in the newest technologies. And we will invest in new technology to mobilize quickly, if necessary," Panetta said.
@highlight
Panetta: By 2020, about 60% of the U.S. Navy's warships will be in the Pacific Ocean
@highlight
The so-called U.S. 'tilt' to Asia includes beefing up the capabilities of regional allies
@highlight
South China Sea is a point of friction among Asian countries; a crisis there could affect the U.S.
@highlight
Panetta is on an eight-day trip to Asia, geared toward explaining the U.S. strategy
On the other side of the U.S.-Asia strategy is an emphasis on building the U.S.-@placeholder relationship.