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South China Sea focus for Clinton Indonesia visit South China Sea focus for Clinton Indonesia visit
(about 2 hours later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due in Indonesia for talks set to include a push for unity among South East Asian nations over territorial disputes with China.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due in Indonesia for talks set to include a push for unity among South East Asian nations over territorial disputes with China.
Talks are expected to focus on regional grouping Asean and its role in tackling wrangling over the South China Sea.Talks are expected to focus on regional grouping Asean and its role in tackling wrangling over the South China Sea.
Mrs Clinton, who will meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is on an 11-day tour of the region.Mrs Clinton, who will meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is on an 11-day tour of the region.
She flew in from the Cook Islands, where she attended a Pacific summit.She flew in from the Cook Islands, where she attended a Pacific summit.
Her extended visit is being seen as a sign that the US is stepping up its diplomatic offensive in the region, as part of President Barack Obama's "pivot to Asia" in the face of an assertive China, analysts say.Her extended visit is being seen as a sign that the US is stepping up its diplomatic offensive in the region, as part of President Barack Obama's "pivot to Asia" in the face of an assertive China, analysts say.
Mrs Clinton is also scheduled to visit China, East Timor and Brunei before heading to the Apec forum in Russia.Mrs Clinton is also scheduled to visit China, East Timor and Brunei before heading to the Apec forum in Russia.
'Diplomatic conversation''Diplomatic conversation'
An official on Mrs Clinton's plane told journalists that the US wanted "to strengthen Asean unity going forward".An official on Mrs Clinton's plane told journalists that the US wanted "to strengthen Asean unity going forward".
Rows over the South China Sea have left the 10-member regional bloc - formally known as the Association of South East Asian Nations - divided.Rows over the South China Sea have left the 10-member regional bloc - formally known as the Association of South East Asian Nations - divided.
China has overlapping claims with four Asean members in the South China Sea. Earlier this year, vessels from China and the Philippines faced off for several weeks over one area, the Scarborough Shoal.China has overlapping claims with four Asean members in the South China Sea. Earlier this year, vessels from China and the Philippines faced off for several weeks over one area, the Scarborough Shoal.
At a regular meeting hosted by Cambodia in July, Asean for the first time in its 45-year history failed to issue a joint statement because of tensions over the disputes. At a regular meeting hosted by Cambodia in July, Asean failed for the first time in its 45-year history to issue a joint statement because of tensions over the disputes.
Vietnam and the Philippines have accused host Cambodia of yielding to Chinese pressure to keep the issue off the agenda.Vietnam and the Philippines have accused host Cambodia of yielding to Chinese pressure to keep the issue off the agenda.
Since then Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has visited regional leaders in a bid to encourage co-operation and the implementation of a joint code of conduct for all parties who claim the various islands.Since then Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has visited regional leaders in a bid to encourage co-operation and the implementation of a joint code of conduct for all parties who claim the various islands.
The official on the plane - speaking anonymously as is customary - said Mrs Clinton wanted to see "how we can put more wind into the sails of a diplomatic effort" The official on the plane - speaking anonymously as is customary - said Mrs Clinton wanted to see "how we can put more wind into the sails of a diplomatic effort".
"The most important thing is that we end up in a diplomatic process where these issues are addressed in a strong diplomatic conversation between a unified Asean and China rather than through any kind of coercion," the official said."The most important thing is that we end up in a diplomatic process where these issues are addressed in a strong diplomatic conversation between a unified Asean and China rather than through any kind of coercion," the official said.
Mrs Clinton is also expected to raise the issue of human rights for religious minority groups, amid what Human Rights Watch described as "rising religious intolerance" in Indonesia. Mrs Clinton flies to China after Indonesia for two days of talks. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is also due in China later this month.
She will then fly on to China for two days of talks. On Monday a commentary by China's state-run Xinhua news agency said the US needed to prove it was "returning to Asia as a peacemaker, instead of a troublemaker".
The security situation in the region was worsening, it said, because South China Sea and East China Sea territorial disputes were escalating.
"Washington, which claims not to take sides in the disputes, is partly blamed for fuelling the tensions because it has apparently emboldened certain relevant parties to make provocations against China in order to achieve undeserved territorial gains," the commentary said.