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U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton stated in a recent speech that nearly a year into the
administration of President Barack Obama, it "should be clear that the
Asia-Pacific relationship is a priority of the United States. . . . We are
working to deepen our historic ties, build new partnerships, work with existing
multilateral organizations to pursue shared interests, and reach beyond
governments to engage directly with people in every corner of this vast
region," said Secretary Clinton:
" We start from a simple premise: America's future is linked to the future
of the Asia-Pacific region; and the future of this region depends on America.
The United States has a strong interest in continuing its tradition of economic
and strategic leadership, and Asia has a strong interest in the United States
remaining a dynamic economic partner and a stabilizing military
influence."
The region's eclectic mix of influential actors, from rising powers to
traditional leaders and the increasing influence of Southeast Asia, is the
continent's key strategic feature, said Secretary Clinton. And the United
States plays a central role in helping to deal with the difficulties that
individual states and this region confront," she said:
"U.S. involvement and leadership
in Asia-Pacific institutions, ranging from our support for and contributions to
APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] to our response to the Indian Ocean
Tsunami, can benefit everyone. We can provide resources and facilitate cooperation
in ways that other regional actors cannot replicate or, in some cases, are not
trusted to do. No country, however - including our own - should seek to
dominate these institutions. But an active and engaged United States is
critical to the success of these."
