Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Gates Reassures Southeast Asia US Will Remain Engaged

   Brian Padden | Hanoi 11 October 2010
   Defense  Secretary  Robert  Gates, right, and Philippines' Minister of
   Defense Voltaire Gazmin second from left gather with their delegations
   for a meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, 11 Oct. 2010

Photo: AP

   Defense  Secretary  Robert  Gates, right, and Philippines' Minister of
   Defense Voltaire Gazmin second from left gather with their delegations
   for a meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, 11 Oct. 2010

   On  a  visit  to  Vietnam,  U.S.  Defense  Secretary  Robert Gates has
   emphasized  that  the  United States intends to remain a Pacific power
   and  stay engaged in Asia. Mr. Gates is in Hanoi for the ASEAN Defense
   Ministers  meeting,  which also includes defense officials from China,
   Japan and Russia.
   Speaking  to  members  of  the  military  and  students at the Vietnam
   National  University  in  Hanoi  Monday, Secretary Robert Gates sent a
   message to reassure Southeast Asia.

   "I  think  all  Asia  can be confident that the U.S. intends to remain
   engaged in Asia as we have been for so many scores of years before and
   that  we  intend  to  be  an  active  party,  not only in economic and
   political  matters  but  also  in defense and security matters," Gates
   said.

   Security issues

   Gates is in Hanoi for the ASEAN Plus Eight defense ministers' meeting.
   The  Association of Southeast Asian Nations invited the United States,
   China,  Japan,  Russia and other regional powers to work on diplomatic
   solutions to security issues in the Pacific.
   The  U.S.  is  concerned  that disputes over small island chains could
   hurt  access to one of the world's busiest sea lanes. Although largely
   uninhabited, the islands are believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil
   and  natural  gas.  They  straddle  busy  sea  lanes  and rich fishing
   grounds.

   Disputed islands

   Beijing  says  its  claims  over the Spratly and Paracel islands are a
   "core national interest." Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and
   Malaysia also claim all or part of the islands.
   The  U.S.  says it has a national interest in freedom of navigation in
   international waters.
   The  defense  secretary  says  by  acting  together  in a multilateral
   organization  like  ASEAN,  smaller Asian countries can better resolve
   regional security issues.
   "Increasingly   we   find   that   relying  exclusively  on  bilateral
   relationships  is  not  enough.  We  need multilateral institutions in
   order  to  confront  the  most  important  security  challenges in the
   region," said Gates.

   U.S. support 

   During  his  two-day visit, Gates will meet with several Asian defense
   ministers  who  want  U.S. support to counter the growth of China as a
   regional power.
   His  meeting  with  the  Chinese  delegation will be the highest-level
   contact  between  U.S. and Chinese defense officials since Beijing cut
   off  military  relations  after  the  U.S.  planned  new arms sales to
   Taiwan.
   A  meeting  Monday  between  China's and Japan's defense ministers was
   intended  to  help  ease  tensions  that arose recently when a Chinese
   fishing  collided  with  Japanese  coast  guard patrol ships in waters
   claimed by both sides.
   During  his  speech  Monday,  Gates said the United States and Vietnam
   have  been  able  to overcome a decade a conflict through dialogue and
   negotiation.   He   acknowledged   differences  of  opinion,  such  as
   Washington's  criticism  of Vietnam's performance on human rights, but
   said it is better to discuss such concerns openly.

.