NUSA DUA, Indonesia, (Reuters) – Tensions between the United States and China threaten to spill over into meetings of Asia-Pacific leaders today, with U.S. President Barack Obama declaring his intention on the eve of the gathering to assert U.S. influence in the region.
Obama said in Australia yesterday, on his last stop before jetting to the meetings in neighbouring Indonesia, that the U.S. military would expand its Asia-Pacific role despite budget cuts, declaring America was “here to stay” as a Pacific power.
Days earlier, as host of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-Operation forum in Hawaii, Obama had voiced growing frustration at China’s trade practices and pushed for a new Asia-Pacific trade deal with some of Beijing’s neighbours.
The Indonesia meetings, on the resort island of Bali, bring together the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and eight regional powers, including the United States, China, Russia and Japan. Bilateral meetings are held today before a full East Asia summit tomorrow.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier this week urged claimants to the South China Sea not to resort to intimidation to push their cause in the potentially rich waters, an indirect reference to China ahead of the Bali summit.
