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Taking Break From Crises Elsewhere, Kerry Turns to Asia and Pacific Taking Break From Crises Elsewhere, Kerry Turns to Asia and Pacific
(about 2 hours later)
HONOLULU — After months of crisis diplomacy over the Middle East and Ukraine, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday that President Obama had asked him to redouble his diplomatic efforts in Asia and the Pacific through the remainder of his administration.HONOLULU — After months of crisis diplomacy over the Middle East and Ukraine, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday that President Obama had asked him to redouble his diplomatic efforts in Asia and the Pacific through the remainder of his administration.
“As secretary of state, my job isn’t just to respond to crises,” Mr. Kerry said. “It’s also about defining and seizing the long-term opportunities for the United States.”“As secretary of state, my job isn’t just to respond to crises,” Mr. Kerry said. “It’s also about defining and seizing the long-term opportunities for the United States.”
Since 2009, the Obama administration has emphasized that it is in the process of rebalancing American foreign policy to give more emphasis to Asia.Since 2009, the Obama administration has emphasized that it is in the process of rebalancing American foreign policy to give more emphasis to Asia.
But that theme often seems to have taken a back seat, given crises in Egypt, Gaza, Syria and Iraq, as well as Mr. Kerry’s frustrated effort to pursue an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty and the possibility of direct Russian intervention in Ukraine.But that theme often seems to have taken a back seat, given crises in Egypt, Gaza, Syria and Iraq, as well as Mr. Kerry’s frustrated effort to pursue an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty and the possibility of direct Russian intervention in Ukraine.
Speaking at the East-West Center here in what the State Department billed as an important address on Asia policy, Mr. Kerry outlined an ambitious policy agenda for a region that is of increasing economic importance to the United States.Speaking at the East-West Center here in what the State Department billed as an important address on Asia policy, Mr. Kerry outlined an ambitious policy agenda for a region that is of increasing economic importance to the United States.
“We are in this for the long haul, cleareyed about the challenges ahead,” Mr. Kerry said.“We are in this for the long haul, cleareyed about the challenges ahead,” Mr. Kerry said.
The United States’ long-term objectives for the Asia and Pacific region, he said, included encouraging economic growth to generate jobs for a young population and developing clean energy to combat the effects of climate change.The United States’ long-term objectives for the Asia and Pacific region, he said, included encouraging economic growth to generate jobs for a young population and developing clean energy to combat the effects of climate change.
Among other key goals, Mr. Kerry cited promoting regional cooperation, defusing tensions in the South China Sea, standing up for human rights and “empowering people.”Among other key goals, Mr. Kerry cited promoting regional cooperation, defusing tensions in the South China Sea, standing up for human rights and “empowering people.”
Mr. Kerry delivered the speech at the end of a round-the-world trip that included visits to Myanmar, Australia and the Solomon Islands. In his previous trip abroad, Mr. Kerry made a two-day visit to India.Mr. Kerry delivered the speech at the end of a round-the-world trip that included visits to Myanmar, Australia and the Solomon Islands. In his previous trip abroad, Mr. Kerry made a two-day visit to India.
Those trips illustrated some of the challenges Mr. Kerry would face even if he were to devote all of his energies to the Asian and Pacific region.Those trips illustrated some of the challenges Mr. Kerry would face even if he were to devote all of his energies to the Asian and Pacific region.
In Myanmar, Mr. Kerry met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate and opposition leader. Mr. Kerry noted that “she is now free to speak her mind as a member of Parliament.”In Myanmar, Mr. Kerry met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate and opposition leader. Mr. Kerry noted that “she is now free to speak her mind as a member of Parliament.”
But when Mr. Kerry met with her on Sunday, she stressed her concerns about the prospects for continued political reform in Myanmar, a nation that is still dominated by its former military rulers.But when Mr. Kerry met with her on Sunday, she stressed her concerns about the prospects for continued political reform in Myanmar, a nation that is still dominated by its former military rulers.
“The United States is going to do everything we can to help reformers” in Myanmar, Mr. Kerry said in his speech on Wednesday, “especially by supporting nationwide elections next year.”“The United States is going to do everything we can to help reformers” in Myanmar, Mr. Kerry said in his speech on Wednesday, “especially by supporting nationwide elections next year.”
During a visit to the Solomon Islands earlier this week, Mr. Kerry saw the erosion and damage caused by a major storm.During a visit to the Solomon Islands earlier this week, Mr. Kerry saw the erosion and damage caused by a major storm.
“The Pacific islands across the entire Pacific are especially vulnerable to climate change,” Mr. Kerry said, adding that the United States and China have a special role to play in reducing emissions.“The Pacific islands across the entire Pacific are especially vulnerable to climate change,” Mr. Kerry said, adding that the United States and China have a special role to play in reducing emissions.
In New Delhi two weeks ago, Mr. Kerry held the Obama administration’s first high-level meeting with India’s new prime minister, Narendra Modi, and sought to strengthen economic and security ties.In New Delhi two weeks ago, Mr. Kerry held the Obama administration’s first high-level meeting with India’s new prime minister, Narendra Modi, and sought to strengthen economic and security ties.
But to the United States’ frustration, Indian officials declined to withdraw objections to a global trade accord unless a parallel understanding was reached that allowed the Indian government to subsidize and stockpile grains.But to the United States’ frustration, Indian officials declined to withdraw objections to a global trade accord unless a parallel understanding was reached that allowed the Indian government to subsidize and stockpile grains.
Attending a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations last weekend in Myanmar, Mr. Kerry sought to ease tensions in the South China Sea by calling for a freeze of activities that “would complicate or escalate disputes.” The final statement from the Asean meeting, however, did not specifically mention China or a freeze. Mr. Kerry noted in his speech here that he was nonetheless pleased that the member nations had agreed it was time to “to seek consensus” on which destabilizing actions should be avoided. Attending a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations last weekend in Myanmar, Mr. Kerry sought to ease tensions in the South China Sea by calling for a freeze of activities that “would complicate or escalate disputes.” The final statement from the Asean meeting, however, did not specifically mention China or a freeze. Mr. Kerry noted in his speech here that he was nonetheless pleased that the member nations had agreed it was time “to seek consensus” on which destabilizing actions should be avoided.
Given the continuing crises elsewhere, the notion that Mr. Kerry will have the time to intensify his efforts in Asian diplomacy has been met with some skepticism by veteran observers, which the secretary inadvertently fueled with a casual comment at the start of his address.Given the continuing crises elsewhere, the notion that Mr. Kerry will have the time to intensify his efforts in Asian diplomacy has been met with some skepticism by veteran observers, which the secretary inadvertently fueled with a casual comment at the start of his address.
Mr. Kerry, who arrived late for the address, told the crowd that during the drive over, he had been making phone calls on the situation in Gaza.Mr. Kerry, who arrived late for the address, told the crowd that during the drive over, he had been making phone calls on the situation in Gaza.