China questions Obama’s Asia intentions
4 Sept 2012 2:25 PM IST
China on Monday sought an explanation from the United States about the ‘true intentions of the Obama administration's Pivot to Asia policy, especially its new defense strategy’. State-run Xinhua news agency ran a commentary titled ‘US owes China convincing explanation of true intentions of its Asia Pivot policy’ that said America has an opportunity of further improving US-China relations and boosting mutual strategic trust, when two top US government officials visit Beijing in September.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton is to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with top Chinese officials on a wide range of issues of common concern. She will be followed by defense secretary Leon Panetta, who is expected to conduct his first trip to China later this month with an eye to expanding mutual military ties.‘The world's attention will focus on how the two US officials will explain to the Chinese side the true intentions of the Obama administration's Pivot to Asia policy, especially its new defense strategy,’ the commentary said. ‘Since last fall, the Obama administration has been implementing the Pivot policy by expanding and intensifying its political, diplomatic and military involvement in the Asia-Pacific region. The fundamental goal underpinning this shift is to maintain the US dominance in the resources-rich and fastest-growing region, amid heightened concerns about China's rise,’ it added.
It noted that as part of its Pivot policy, ‘Washington has quickened the pace of increasing its military presence and engagement in the Asia Pacific, including deploying troops in Australia, boosting military cooperation with Japan, and purposely strengthening military ties with some Asian countries, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam, both involved in territorial disputes with China’.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton is to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with top Chinese officials on a wide range of issues of common concern. She will be followed by defense secretary Leon Panetta, who is expected to conduct his first trip to China later this month with an eye to expanding mutual military ties.‘The world's attention will focus on how the two US officials will explain to the Chinese side the true intentions of the Obama administration's Pivot to Asia policy, especially its new defense strategy,’ the commentary said. ‘Since last fall, the Obama administration has been implementing the Pivot policy by expanding and intensifying its political, diplomatic and military involvement in the Asia-Pacific region. The fundamental goal underpinning this shift is to maintain the US dominance in the resources-rich and fastest-growing region, amid heightened concerns about China's rise,’ it added.
It noted that as part of its Pivot policy, ‘Washington has quickened the pace of increasing its military presence and engagement in the Asia Pacific, including deploying troops in Australia, boosting military cooperation with Japan, and purposely strengthening military ties with some Asian countries, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam, both involved in territorial disputes with China’.
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