US Assistant Secretary Daniel Russel responsible for East Asia and the
Pacific has affirmed the importance of Asia to America as well as the
region’s stability in the US interest.
“Asia matters to the
entire United States – to our economy, to our security, to our
families,” Russel said in his speech at the Commonwealth Club in San
Francisco, California, on July 28.
According to the official,
that’s why President Obama decided, before he even took office, to
institute a long-term, strategic emphasis on the region.
He said
he is confident “that strategy will extend far beyond his presidency,
because we have strong bipartisan support for it – both parties
understand the importance of Asia.”
In his speech,
Russel stressed Southeast Asia as the dynamic centre of the region, and
the ten countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN).
These ten countries have many differences, but
they are bound by the conviction that they can achieve more together
than they can apart, he said.
“The region’s economic dynamism and
strategic importance has made it a particular focus of this
administration – the ‘rebalance within the rebalance,’ if you will,” he
affirmed.
“ASEAN matters to the entire United States,” he
emphasised, adding ASEAN is the US’s fourth-largest export market and
trading partner.
“Sitting astride vital trade routes, it is important to our security,” he added.
A stable Southeast Asia that meets the aspirations of its people is in America’s national interest, the US official affirmed.
He said that President Obama and Secretary Kerry will be in Myanmar in November to attend ASEAN meetings.
Regarding the East Sea, Russel stressed peace and stability in the East Sea is
important to the international community, because the East Sea is
essential to the global economy. Up to 50 percent of the world’s oil
tanker shipments, and over half of the world’s merchant tonnage, pass
through the East Sea.
In recent months, the main security
challenge facing ASEAN has been tensions in the East Sea, he said,
adding the national interests like freedom of navigation, international
law, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and unimpeded commerce are at
stake.
Russel said the US works to lower tensions and
help the parties peacefully manage their disputes in several ways, and
calls on all sides to avoid provocations and make clear claims based on
international law.
“We are urging China and other parties
concerned to have a conversation about what activities are acceptable to
each of them – both to help reduce tensions now, and manage differences
in the long run,” he said.
In 2002, the ASEAN nations
and China signed a Declaration on Conduct in the East Sea. The
Declaration, among other things, said that the parties would resolve
disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law, and would
refrain from actions that would escalate disputes, such as setting up
new outposts on unoccupied features. They agreed to work toward a more
detailed Code of Conduct.
“Big and powerful countries have a
special responsibility to show restraint,” he stressed, adding
international law, not national power, should be the basis for pursuing
maritime claims in the East Sea.