02/02/00
Text: Bereuter Feb. 2 Speech on Asia and U.S Security Policy
(U.S. must sustain, enhance security commitment to region)
The U.S. security commitment to the Asia-Pacific region must be "sustained and enhanced" to maintain stability in the
region as well as further U.S. national interests, according to Rep. Doug Bereuter, chairman of the House International
Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Bereuter outlined his views on the U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific region in a broad-ranging speech given February 2 to
international scholars and policymakers attending a day-long event in Washington, D.C. sponsored by the East-West Center
and the Woodrow Wilson Center. (The U.S. Congress established both think tanks in the 1960's.)
The U.S. security presence, Bereuter said, "is welcomed as a stabilizing and relatively benign influence in the region
by virtually all the Asian nations," with the exception of North Korea. The United States, he said, must increase its
focus and augment its resources to defend its economic interests, expand commercial opportunities and to ensure American
competitiveness in the region. Bereuter also urged the creative utilization of bilateral, regional, and multilateral
approaches in advancing in the region America's fundamental principles of democracy, pluralism, and human rights.
Bereuter said he ranks the Korean Peninsula "as the most dangerous tinderbox on earth."
"We should err on the side of caution by treating North Korea's advances with appropriate skepticism and by sending
Pyongyang frequent and consistently strong and unambiguous messages about our commitment to South Korea's security and
peace on the peninsula," he said.
Bereuter characterized the future of U.S.-China relations as "uncertain." "China is, or almost certainly will be, our
competitor -- both militarily and economically, and we should respectfully treat China as such," he said.
U.S. issues of concern regarding China -- such as proliferation, human rights, espionage, and unfair trade -- need to be
addressed "by the appropriate means in the appropriate fora -- not, for example, in the annual congressional debate and
vote on a presidential decision to extend Normal Trade Relations," he said.
"I remain hopeful that this year we can replace this frustrating annual ritual with a clean up or down vote on permanent
NTR for China," he added, noting that opponents to permanent Normal Trade Relations "have yet to propose any responsible
or rational alternative that benefits the United States."
Following is the text of Bereuter's remarks, as prepared for delivery:
(begin text)
Asia and U.S. Foreign and National Security Policy
Doug Bereuter, Chairman, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
February 2, 2000
Good Afternoon. The topic Lee Hamilton and Bob Hathaway asked me to speak on, "Asia in U.S. Foreign and National
Security Policy in the Next Millennium" certainly constitutes a daunting task. However, I will take a modest stab at it
in the limited time we have here today, highlighting just a few areas: The solid foundation we have through our
alliances with Japan, Australia and Korea, and what I see as the principal challenges facing us in North Korea, China,
Indonesia, India and Pakistan.
I see the Asia-Pacific region, with over one-half of the world's population, as one in which we, as Americans,
undoubtedly will face many new challenges. Permit me, for the record, first state what should be obvious to most
American and Asian observers: the United States plays a very important and positive role in the overall security of east
and southeast Asia -- and in certain other parts of Asia. Our presence is welcomed as a stabilizing and relatively
benign influence in the region by virtually all the Asian nations in the region, including, I believe, at this state, by
China. In fact, perhaps the only country in Asia that does not welcome America's interest and commitment to the region
is North Korea. But for the United States to continue to play an important role in Asia, we must to some degree rely
upon on -- and further strengthen -- the stable alliances and friendships we have in the area.
The most important of these alliances is with Japan. Our relationship has grown strong and rather comprehensive. Looking
at the economic relationship, too, for example, in one area, namely trade, Japan ranks third only to Canada and Mexico
as the largest single-country market for U.S. exports. Indeed, 20% of all U.S. agricultural exports go to Japan, meaning
that Japan is a larger agricultural export market than the 15-countries of the European Union. Japan is also one of the
largest sources of foreign portfolio capital and of foreign direct investment in the U.S. Likewise, the United States is
the largest source of foreign portfolio capital and direct investment in Japan.
JAPAN
In terms of national security cooperation, I would say that our relationship with Japan is excellent and even stronger
than it was a few years ago. One of the most important matters related to Asian security is something that has almost
totally escaped public attention in the United States -- the successful renegotiation of the "Defense Cooperation
Guidelines." This agreement clarifies and expands Japan's role in helping maintain peace and security in Northeast Asia.
It sets forth in sufficient detail what we can expect from Japan if fighting erupts on the Korean peninsula. The
Guidelines chart a course for a Japan which is much more confident and secure about its own future.
Today, it is impossible to overstate Japan's importance to the U.S. in Asia. Japan is host to about half of the 100,000
uniformed personnel that the United States maintains in Asia and the Western Pacific. Yokosuka (pronounced as "Yokuska"
by Americans), Japan, is the only overseas "homeport" for a U.S. aircraft carrier task force. With the recent agreement
to move the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station in Okinawa to a less populated part of the island, this growing irritant in
local relations now, it would seem, is being addressed -- at least on an interim period of some duration. In terms of
export controls and arms sales, Japan has the same status with the U.S. as that which we have with our NATO allies. Now,
too, Japan has decided to invest and participate in the U.S. theater missile defense program, a decision that was no
doubt prompted by North Korea's missile tests.
Given this crucial and powerful U.S.-Japan relationship, I believe that, unfortunately, Japan has not received the
attention it deserves from the Clinton Administration. This is probably best exemplified by President Clinton's highly
publicized June 1998 visit to China which he made without the customary and expected stop in Japan. This was commonly
perceived as a snub in Japan. At present, our relationship continues to be marked by a sense of drift. Even though Japan
is, indeed, our most important ally in Asia, the U.S. strategic dialogue with Tokyo lately has been all too limited. The
appearance -- certainly to influential Japanese -- is that the Clinton Administration has no clear vision of what role
it really wants Japan to play in Asia and world affairs. Consultations tend to be pro-forma and meetings scripted.
Current U.S. decision-makers consequently have a poor understanding of what Japan's leaders are genuinely thinking,
making it all the more difficult to interpret security and economic decisions in Tokyo. However, I believe that,
overall, this appearance of indifference is both temporary and unintentional. With the proper attention by the
Administration, and with obvious support from the Congress, I believe that our bilateral relations on all fronts
(defense, political, economic) will and must continue to be strengthened, even though trade conflicts may grab the
headlines from time to time.
AUSTRALIA
The other very important strategic ally for America in Asia is the country in the region with which we have our deepest
friendship -- Australia. Given that "our cousins Down Under" do not have the same constitutional constraints as Japan
regarding the deployment abroad of military forces, Australia has unfailingly joined the U.S. in protecting our mutual
national security interests around the globe, including combat in Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. Just as
importantly, Australia, unlike some of our European NATO allies, has responsibly taken the initiative to provide
stability and security in its own neighborhood. This is best exemplified by Australia's primary leadership role with the
INTERFET force in East Timor.
I envision a strengthening of both Australia's regional role and US-Australian relations in the years to come. Our
alliance with Australia and, in reality with its people, does not always elicit much attention, but it is one of
America's crucial strategic partners. Indeed, there are things that Australia can do to promote American interests and
our mutual interests that the U.S. cannot do for itself. Some are obvious; others are best left undescribed. We should
pay more attention to this friendship with the Australians and do more to show our appreciation of this special
relationship.
"THE KOREAS"
A third strong pillar of support for U.S. national security interests in Asia remains the Republic of Korea. Forged in
blood during the Korean War, our special relationship has gradually evolved from that of American guardianship to one
that today reflects a relatively more balanced defense alliance. In fact, given the highly unpredictable and seemingly
reckless nature of the xenophobic regime in Pyongyang, I continue to rank the Korean Peninsula as the most dangerous
tinderbox on earth -- yes, equal to the Middle East. Working closely and cooperatively with South Korea and Japan, we
need to do a better job of lessening North Korea's threat without succumbing, as we are doing increasingly, to
Pyongyang's brazen foreign aid extortion schemes.
None of us, I think, can accurately predict what North Korea will do in the future. However, it probably is safe to
predict that future DPRK-precipitated confrontations and crises are nearly inevitable. Thus, we should err on the side
of caution by treating North Korea's advances with appropriate skepticism and by sending Pyongyang frequent and
consistently strong and unambiguous messages about our commitment to South Korea's security and peace on the peninsula.
Former Secretary of Defense William Perry was appointed by the President to make policy recommendations regarding North
Korea. As you probably know, he proposed a two-pronged approach. The first prong would be engagement. If the DPRK
chooses this route, it could expect increased trade and the gradual elimination of sanctions. If, however, Pyongyang
chooses the path of confrontation, Dr. Perry recommends that North Korea be met with firmness, resolve, and increased
military strength.
I believe that Secretary Perry has once again performed admirable service to the nation, and that his basic policy
recommendation is sound. I am, however, somewhat concerned that this Administration is so committed to its policy of
engagement that few types of DPRK provocations would be deemed sufficiently odious to cause the Administration to
conclude it must take the second path. If, for example, the North were to resume its flight testing of ballistic
missiles, I believe the Congress would overwhelmingly interpret this as a rejection of engagement. Only time will tell
whether the Administration would agree.
You may be aware that I was part of a Speaker-designated Republican task force that examined the threat posed by North
Korea. The report concluded that the DPRK's conventional military capability has declined in recent years but that
significant evidence exists to strongly suggest that an undeclared nuclear weapons development program continues. I
believe that intuitively most sophisticated American observers of North Korea acknowledge that probability. In addition,
North Korea's ballistic missile capabilities have increased markedly, with the initial testing of the three-stage Taepo
Dong missile. Because North Korea has historically not conducted extensive testing like we do before weapons deployment
and because the DPRK is perhaps the most unconstrained proliferator in the world, this poses a security threat that
extends far beyond Northeast Asia. While the task force did not offer specific policy recommendations before adjourning
the first session of the 106th Congress, despite the desire of certain Members to do so, I believe you can anticipate
legislative efforts in the coming year -- soon. The chilling suspicion that crosses the mind is that the North Koreans
are only stringing us along -- buying time -- until they are able to deploy these Taepo Dong missiles tipped with
weapons of mass destruction which can threaten not only South Korea, of course, but also all of Japan and even parts of
the United States.
CHINA
Ranked right after the very real and dangerous security threat posed by North Korea, I believe that the greatest
challenge to the United States and our overall national security interests in Asia may well eventually be posed by
China. That is not certain. However, I believe it is clear that China intends to be the preeminent regional military
force and it will be a powerful economic and political player globally. Given a whole range of factors, I must
characterize the nature of our future relations with China to be most uncertain. It is premature to view China as an
enemy or adversary, though we could make it our adversary if we adopt a policy of trying to isolate and ostracize China
as some in the U.S. and in China do advocate by word or actions. China is certainly not accurately described as "a
strategic partner." However, China is, or almost certainly will be, our competitor -- both militarily and economically
and we should respectfully treat China as such. It is certainly still possible for the U.S. and China to have a
complementary or at least largely compatible future relationship.
Unfortunately, while Sino-American relations are increasingly problematic, they are not a zero-sum game, as some
effectively would characterize them. Our relations are complex and comprehensive and will only become more so in the
future. Our concerns continue to multiply in scope and gravity: espionage, both illegal and highly questionable campaign
contributions, threateningly asymmetrical military modernization, weapons proliferation, abortion, human rights, Tibet,
Taiwan, and unfair trade, among others. However, I believe each of these issues needs to be addressed by the appropriate
means in the appropriate fora -- not, for example, in the annual congressional debate and vote on a presidential
decision to extend Normal Trade Relations (or NTR) to China or granting it permanent NTR for Chinese accession to the
World Trade Organization.
While China is a nuclear weapons state and is trying to modernize its conventional forces, we should nevertheless be
careful not to overrate its capabilities. The China of today is certainly by no means the Soviet Union of yester-year.
China's approximately 20 liquid-fueled nuclear missiles serve only as a deterrent force, and, though it is modernizing,
the People's Liberation Army is still a poorly trained, third-rate, infantry-intensive force. Like China's state owned
enterprises, the PLA -- as a primary vanguard element of the Communist Party primarily and the defender of the Chinese
state faces very difficult (and potentially radical) challenges as it tries to evolve from a Maoist organization to a
modern, advanced military force that can project power in the region.
In light of the serious revelations of the Cox Committee, where I served as a member (and here by revelations I mean
what we actually concluded and not what embarrassed critics say we said or implied that we said), and based upon other
events and information, I personally have concluded that it is now necessary to fundamentally re-examine American
foreign policy towards China. Every facet of our relationship needs to be re-evaluated. And, since the Chinese now have
an enhanced capacity to produce and weaponize a new generation of missiles with more accurate and powerful weapons of
mass destruction -- among other dangerous weapons to which little attention has been drawn -- and here is the important
point -- in a much shorter time horizon than we had anticipated, every action we take with respect to the Chinese must
be in both our longer term interest and our short-term interest. We no longer necessarily have the luxury of the long
lead-time (20-25 years) we once thought rather certain. We cannot count on economic progress and the inevitable positive
changes deeper integration into the international community economic progress will bring to China before they have a new
level of threat and regional intimidation capacity. We can no longer afford to be somewhat relaxed about always promptly
defending our immediate interests because "time is on our side". We cannot afford to be so careless and trusting that
long-term benefits will arrive in time. China is in evolution and its climb up the power curve may be quicker than
expected. Therefore, again, for emphasis, a policy of responsible engagement must be centered on protecting and
promoting both our short- and long-term national interests on all occasions.
Of course, opportunities for positive change will not occur in all facets of U.S.-China relations at the same time. We
should seize opportunities that are in our short- and long-term national interest when they arise. For example, the
chance to make great progress on trade problems with China and simultaneously advance economic reform in China is
present now available to us with the pending WTO accession agreement. Congress needs to ensure that the United States
benefits fully from this milestone opportunity by providing China with permanent Normal Trade Relations ( or PNTR)
status as soon as possible. It's a deal the President mistakenly said "no" to last April.
At this time, given the fact that China is still negotiating its bilateral agreement with the EU and its accession
protocols with the WTO itself, it appears that the earliest Congress would act is in April and, hopefully, at least
before June, which is the time the President would have to issue the annual Jackson-Vanik waiver to continue China's
current NTR status for another year. Upon issuance of the waiver, the apparently inevitable resolution of disapproval
would be considered by the House. I remain hopeful that this year we can replace this frustrating annual ritual with a
clean up or down vote on permanent NTR for China. If President Clinton and his Administration pull out all the stops and
buck up the courage of House Democrats who are intimidated by organized labor and if candidate Gore reverses his current
position to pander to labor before November, we should succeed for America.
There will certainly be opposition to providing China with permanent NTR, though opponents of PNTR in the U.S. have yet
to propose any responsible or rational alternative that benefits the United States. Recall that with this agreement we
give up nothing. This is an export-oriented agreement in which China makes all the concessions. Of course, it must be
understood that opposition to China's accession to the WTO is not limited to critics in the United States. I believe
that Premier Zhu Rongji and other leading economic reformers in Beijing see the internal economic restructuring required
by China's WTO accession as necessary for sustaining economic growth and, therefore, maintain relative social stability
and the Communist Party's current and absolute monopoly on political power. Clearly, they are taking a gamble.
Ultimately, I believe that just as economic reform and growth laid the foundation for political liberalization in
Taiwan, Korea and elsewhere, Premier Zhu's initiatives, if successful, may mark the beginning of the probably lengthy
end of the Communist Party's monopoly. Certainly, this latter possibility is a traumatizing possibility for the
hard-liners in the PLA and elsewhere in the power structure. They are a powerful source of resistance to the pace and
scope of Zhu's economic reforms. Zhu is their ideological enemy. Furthermore, despite the highly publicized
announcements that the PLA has divested from its numerous business interests throughout China, in reality the PLA
remains closely involved with a significant number of the inefficient and bankrupt state-owned enterprises which are
targeted for reform and privatization. How the PLA addresses and adapts to the overall economic reforms as well as to
its own internal reforms will be an important development to watch. The questions about their reactions certainly do
contribute to the uncertainty in Sino-American relations.
TAIWAN-CHINA
Perhaps not fully understood here in the U.S., especially I fear among some of my colleagues in Congress, is the
overwhelming fixation or preoccupation Beijing has on the issue of Taiwan. If there is any one issue that could bring
the U.S. and China into armed confrontation in the near future, it is Taiwan. This could have occurred in March 1996,
when, in the guise of military exercises, the PLA fired missiles that landed in the waters off Taipei thereby resulting
in the deployment of two U.S. aircraft carrier task forces to the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan-PRC relations are particularly delicate at this moment because of the presidential elections which will occur in
Taiwan on March 18th. With three candidates in a virtual dead heat, there is no way to predict the outcome. However, we
need to be very concerned about the possibility of one or more of the candidates, in desperation, playing the "Taiwan
independence card." We also need to follow Beijing's response very closely in the aftermath to the elections, for the
PRC may well be tempted to test the new leader's resolve. There are too many Sinologists who believe that the Chinese
still plan an overt response of some nature to President Lee's "state-to-state" comments.
Finally on this subject, it is important to remember that the Chinese see the possibility or movement to independence in
Taiwan as a threat to their sovereignty -- not just in the Taiwan Strait confrontation, but also in Tibet, Xinjiang,
Inner Mongolia, Hong Kong, and elsewhere in China. In short, this is an issue that merits very careful attention.
Yesterday, the House of Representatives considered and overwhelmingly passed the controversial Taiwan Security
Enhancement Act (TSEA). Introduced by Representative Tom DeLay in the House and Senator Jesse Helms in the Senate, the
TSEA, as originally introduced, sought to establish a much closer relationship between Taiwan's military and the U.S.
armed forces. Some of the provisions in the introduced draft went, I felt, much too far, were ill advised and, in some
cases, unnecessary. For example, demonstrating an apparent lack of knowledge, the legislation actually urged the United
States to sell diesel submarines to Taiwan. Now we don't make diesel submarines in the United States and haven't for
several decades. We no longer have the capacity in this country and the U.S. Navy has every reason to resist recreating
such a capability. Diesel submarines, theoretically, might be bought from current producers such as Sweden, Germany, the
Netherlands, France, Australia or Russia, but not from the U.S.
Similarly, the draft legislation would have mandated an even more generous number of slots for the education and
training of additional Taiwanese officers. To do so, however, would have meant reducing the level of training for our
own military officers and those of other countries, something that would undermine our own national security. That
provision also was altered in Committee as were a number of other significant changes made to other provisions in the
draft legislation.
INDONESIA
Let me now turn from Northeast Asia to concerns that emanate from Southeast Asia. Conditions in Indonesia are very
troubling. The consequences of further economic and political collapse, including a very real potential for the violent
break-up of the country, are extremely serious and would significantly impact regional stability and U.S. national
security in a most adverse way. The necessary and painful economic reforms Indonesia must undertake would be daunting
even to a well-established democracy. Indonesia must boldly undertake this action while at the same time, with the most
minimal experience and direction, undertake massive political reform.
Indonesia, perhaps the most ethnically, religiously, geographically complicated country on earth now has seen serious
disintegrative and fratricidal ethnic religious forces emerge in several parts of the country.
To date, I believe that President Wahid has exceeded most reasonable and informed international expectations in guiding
Indonesia in the right direction and preventing its collapse. In my judgment, the U.S. is correctly providing financial,
technical and political support for Indonesia in an effort to bolster these positive efforts. Yet, the separatist
attacks in Aceh, the religious riots in Ambon and Lombok, and anti-Chinese pogroms that are occurring with increasing
frequency and levels of violence underscore how fragile and volatile the situation is in Indonesia. Given the overall
poor state of President Wahid's health, the questions about the ability of Vice-President Megawati to effectively
succeed Gus Dur, and given the ambitions of National Assembly Speaker and Islamic Movement leader, Amin Rais, it appears
to me that the armed forces will continue, by necessity, to be the ultimate stabilizing force and will, if necessary,
act if they deem it necessary to ensure the secular integrity of Indonesia-- just as they have done in the past.
The recent decision by an Indonesian government commission to charge six top Indonesian generals, including General
Wiranto, and their militia surrogates for human rights abuses in East Timor certainly is a strong, positive action we
must acknowledge. While supporting the investigation and prosecution of those military leaders responsible for human
rights violations in East Timor, Aceh and elsewhere has an important bearing on U.S.-Indonesian relations. We must not
allow this set of issues alone to halt a proper engagement with Indonesia's military or do crucial damage to our overall
relations with this important nation of over 200 million, as was the case with the problems of East Timor. I strongly
believe that previous well-intentioned (but in some cases special-interest motivated) congressional actions which were
focused on East Timor, such as the suspension of the International Military Education and Training (or IMET) program and
the denial to Indonesia of an E-IMET program which was even more specifically aimed at human rights training, have
largely been counter-productive and have resulted in America losing overall access and leverage in Indonesia,
particularly with the Indonesian military. That was recently made apparent by our limited ability to influence and
temper the military's actions in East Timor. We should learn from these mistakes and appreciate the fact that military
education programs and other forms of engagement with the Indonesian military (now called the TNI) substantially benefit
both our own military and our interest in promoting military reform and professionalism. They clearly are in our overall
national interest.
The need for responsible US-Indonesian military-to-military engagement is even more crucial today because the TNI is
already undergoing significant changes as President Wahid has transferred reform-minded generals and admirals into new
positions of authority. For the first time since the 1950s, Indonesia has a civilian defense minister; that is a move we
should applaud and do what we can to responsibly reinforce. Indeed, responsible U.S. assistance and engagement can help
promote and shape these positive developments. Furthermore, in the past, when the U.S. was required to suspend military
assistance, our Australian allies stepped into this role and cultivated close ties with the TNI. However, as a
consequence of Australia's intervention in East Timor, these ties have become severely strained and will take time to
repair. If we leave a gap this time, there is no one to fill it.
INDIA-PAKISTAN
Lastly, let me turn briefly to South Asia. It seems like a distant memory, but just two short years ago the Indian and
Pakistani Prime Ministers met in Lahore. They solemnly promised to resolve all outstanding differences, including
Kashmir. Since that time, however, there have been nuclear tests, the Kargil incursion, a military coup in Pakistan,
and, most recently, a terrorist hijacking. Rarely has the hope of peace been dashed so decidedly.
I believe it is painfully clear to all that U.S. policy, designed to deter nuclear proliferation and punish would-be
nuclear powers, almost certainly served a useful purpose, but ultimately it did not succeed. This policy may have helped
deter proliferation for many years, but with the nuclear tests that time has passed. Laws that were enacted to deter
proliferation now limit our ability to engage in very important ways with India and Pakistan to actually avoid nuclear
confrontation. I believe, for example, that the United States now should work closely with India and Pakistan to better
assure that the control of this nuclear capability in their hands is as safe as possible. We have fail-safe technology
and experience with redundant command and control systems, elements of which we can share, to ensure that inadvertent or
unauthorized nuclear launches do not occur. It is extremely important for India and Pakistan to have such technology.
Remember, for example, that during the Kargil crisis there were widespread rumors in both India and Pakistan of imminent
nuclear attack by the other side. With armies mobilizing and airplanes being lost, the risk of escalation was very real.
In such a situation, emergency inter-country communications channels and secure command and control of nuclear assets
are essential. However, in general, we are prohibited by law from providing this type of assistance. I have urged the
Administration to act on this matter, but they insist that their hands are tied. Frankly, I find this answer doubtful,
but if accurate they need to clearly and aggressively seek a statutory change.
I am pleased that the Congress has been able to legislate a waiver of the draconian sanctions that were imposed
immediately after the nuclear tests. Frankly, a prohibition on commercial loans and a "no" vote in the IMF hurt American
exporters and did nothing to resolve our proliferation and security concerns. I am pleased to have had a hand in lifting
these sanctions together with a number of older, outmoded prohibitions (i.e., the Pressler Amendment).
Let me say that, during my five year tenure as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, I have tried very
hard not to play favorites. I have sought to treat both India and Pakistan on the merits of their case or actions. I
continue to believe that the United States can, and should, seek to have a positive relationship with both countries.
Again, in this instance, our relations with either country are not a zero-sum game. And, again, as with East Timor, I
refuse to play ethnic politics among factions in America.
On another related issue, there is currently a move by some friends of India to legislate the placement of Pakistan on
the State Department Terrorist Countries List. Placing Pakistan on this list would mean that we have totally cut off
Pakistan -- that we thereby, effectively, no longer seek to influence the course of events in Pakistan. I cannot believe
that such a move is appropriate or in the U.S. national interest -- certainly not on the basis of the information
available and verified.
The United States continues to wield considerable influence in Islamabad. We are able to encourage Pakistan's behavior
in many ways. Of course, our influence is not absolute. There no doubt will be occasions when the leadership in Pakistan
will not heed our warnings. But at this point it would be irresponsible to lump Pakistan together with the likes of
North Korea, Sudan, Iraq, and Libya. (It is reported that the Administration may want to remove North Korea from the
list.) Our policy should be to prevent Pakistan from becoming a true rogue state. If Pakistan goes the way of
Afghanistan -- adopting a Taliban-style leadership -- the U.S. national interest would be severely threatened (as would
India's security).
Indeed, the challenges ahead for the U.S. in Asia are many and they are complex: North Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia,
India and Pakistan. And, these are not all of the areas of concern. Undoubtedly, there will be a similar number of
economic security and competitive challenges the U.S. will confront in Asia in the coming years. However, we'll have to
save such predictions and speculations for another lunch!
Five years ago, when I held my first hearing as the new Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Subcommittee, I stated in my
opening remarks that we should recognize and appreciate the extraordinary and growing importance of the Asia-Pacific
region to the United States and the world community. After all, the United States is also a Pacific country.
Accordingly, our policies and actions should be guided by the following three overall objectives:
1. The United States military and naval presence and security commitment to the region must be sustained and enhanced
both for the purpose of regional stability and in furtherance of our foreign policy goals and national interest.
2. The United States must better focus and augment its resources to defend our economic interests, to expand our
commercial opportunities, and to ensure American competitiveness in the region.
3. Mindful of the American commitment to our fundamental principles of democracy, pluralism, and human rights, we must
creatively utilize the most effective bilateral, regional, and multilateral approaches to advance these principles in
the region.
Maintaining -- indeed, strengthening -- our already close alliances with Japan, Australia and South Korea is a
fundamental factor in achieving these goals. So, too, is building further upon the solid foundation of friendship and
cooperation already established with Singapore, Thailand, and, eventually, again with New Zealand. I even have some
optimism about new possibilities to strengthen our relationship and mutual benefits with respect to the Philippines.
Certainly, this region holds enormous importance and promise for the United States. Our trade relations with Asia, our
security relations with Asia, and our political linkages with the region will greatly influence the U.S. geo-strategic
role in the 21st Century. We must give these relations the high level of responsible, forward-looking attention they
warrant.
Thank you.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)