The US will continue to expand ties with “longtime friends” such as Taiwan, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Daniel Russel told US lawmakers on Tuesday.
“The Asia-Pacific [region] is integral to United States growth and stability and for that reason our continued engagement must not and will not waver,” he said.
Testifying on next year’s US$1.2 billion budget request for East Asia, Russel told the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia that the future security and prosperity of the US would be significantly defined by developments in the region.
The testimony took on new importance, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing this week, China’s reaction to charges by Washington that senior Chinese military officers were stealing US commercial secrets and the standoff between China and Vietnam over an oil rig in the South China Sea.
“At a time when the region is building a more mature security and economic architecture to promote stability and prosperity, sustained US commitment is essential,” Russel said.
“US leadership will strengthen that architecture and pay dividends for our security and prosperity well into this century,” he said.
Russel said that in its second term US President Barack Obama’s administration was continuing to build commitments, to modernize alliances, expand trade and investment, strengthen regional institutions and respect for rule of law, promote respect for human rights and deepen engagement with emerging powers.
“We also continue to develop our longstanding partnership with Singapore, deepen our comprehensive partnerships with Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, and expand ties with longtime friends such as Taiwan and New Zealand,” he said.
Russel said the US was seeking greater cooperation with China on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues and “constructive management of our differences.”
The budget request includes diplomatic engagement funds and foreign assistance, and reflects a 5 percent increase from last year.
“It sends a clear signal of the importance of the rebalance and the US’ commitment to advancing our interests in the region,” Russel said.
He stressed that US$12.5 million would go for International Military Education and Training (IMET), a 46 percent increase from last year.
“As we seek to build ties and influence in the Asia-Pacific, there is arguably no better program than IMET to ensure the US is positioned for strong relationships with the next generation of military leaders,” Russel said.
“Providing valuable training and education on US military doctrine and practices promotes domestic values, builds capacity in key areas, increases the professionalization of the forces, and creates lasting military-to-military relationships,” he said.
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