|
 Speaking in Australia on the final stop of a three-country
regional tour, Obama insisted that Asia’s security order must not be
based on "coercion or intimidation ... where big nations bully the
small, but on alliances for mutual security".
Although Obama did not explicitly point the finger at China, there
was little doubt that he was alluding to Beijing’s maritime disputes
with its neighbors and growing concern in the region about its
military build-up.
"No one should ever question our resolve or our commitments to our
allies," Obama said in a policy speech at Queensland University in
Brisbane, where he is attending a G20 summit.
Obama, who visited Beijing for an Asia-Pacific summit this week and
held talks with President Xi Jinping, sought to show renewed resolve
for the U.S. "pivot" to the region, involving military, diplomatic
and economic assets. The policy is widely seen as intended to
counter China’s rising influence.
 But many in Asia are looking for further proof that the policy is
real, with Obama’s agenda dominated by crises ranging from Ukraine,
Islamic State and Ebola.
"Day in, day out, steadily, deliberately, we will continue to deepen
our engagement using every element of our power —diplomacy,
military, economic, development," Obama said.
While reiterating the position that Washington welcomes the rise of
a peaceful, stable, prosperous China, he said Beijing must prove
itself to be a "responsible actor" and "adhere to the same rules as
other nations, whether in trade or on the seas."
"China will inevitably play a critical role in the future of this
region, and the question is what kind of role will it play?" Obama
told a crowd of about 1,500 students and faculty.
Obama promised continued efforts to enhance security ties with
countries as disparate as longtime close ally Japan and former foe
Vietnam, both of which are locked in standoffs with Beijing over
claims in the East and South China Seas. But he put forth no new
security initiatives.
[to top of second column] |
But even as Obama hailed the region’s "dynamism," he warned of
potential threats.
"We see dangers that could undermine this progress," he said, citing
North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, disputes over territory
that threaten to spiral into confrontation and the failure to uphold
universal human rights.
His pledge to continue to stand up for human rights in the region
appeared to be a nod to rights groups that have criticized the pivot
for focusing on security and economics but neglecting issues like
democratic freedoms.
In his speech, he singled out pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong,
saying the people there were "speaking out for their universal
rights" - a comment likely to irk the Chinese government. Xi made
clear at his joint news conference with Obama that Hong Kong was
China’s affair alone.
(Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Michael Perry)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
