U.S. reiterates 'pivot' to Asia policy

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 20): U.S. reiterates 'pivot' to Asia policy
 
The United States reassured its allies in Asia on Wednesday that its pledges to the "critical region" remain the centerpiece of its foreign policy.

No matter how many hot spots emerge elsewhere, Washington will continue to pay its "highest level attention" to Asia and deepen its "enduring commitment to this critical region," said Susan Rice, U.S. President Barack Obama's national security advisor.

Rice outlined the Obama Administration's rebalance to Asia, dubbed as a "cornerstone" of its foreign policy at an address in Georgetown University.

She also said Obama would visit Asia in April to strengthen U.S. ties across the region, after a canceled trip to Asia in October due to government shutdown.

Stressing security as an underpinning of all progress, Rice said 60 percent of U.S. fleet will be based in the Pacific by 2020.

"Our military presence in the region is vital, not only to deter threats and defend allies, but also to provide speedy humanitarian assistance and unmatched disaster response," said Rice, citing U.S. military aid to typhoon rescue operations in the Philippines.

One of the most pressing security goals for the United States is to roll back the threat posed by the nuclear program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said Rice.

The United States will continue to join with international partners, especially with China, to pile pressure on the DPRK to denuclearize, she said.

Rice threatened to expand both national and multilateral sanctions against the DPRK as "costs to future provocations."

The United States seeks to operationalize a new model of major-country relations with China, said Rice, adding that it involves managing competition while forging deeper cooperation on issues of common interest, such as the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

As many of Asia's most vexing security challenges are transnational security threats, the United States will increase its engagement with regional institutions like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the East Asia Summit, said Rice.

"America's commitment won't expire a few months or few years from now," she said, claiming that the United States will be a reliable, constant, strong and steady being in Asia for the long haul.

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