China asks US to explain Asia policy

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 defence 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 Defence 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 defence 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 co-operation with Japan, and purposely strengthening military ties with some Asian countries, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam, both involved in territorial disputes with China.” It then asked a string of questions including “Is the US Pivot policy really intended to bolster peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region? Can the US really play a fair role over the territorial disputes in the region? Does the US mean it when it pledges not to seek to contain China?” The commentary went on to say that many US actions so far have been “counterproductive to promoting peace and stability in the Asia Pacific, as indicated by the fact that the security situation in the region has been worsening, rather than improving, mainly due to the recent escalation of the territorial disputes in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.” It “partly blamed” Washington for fuelling the tensions because “it has apparently emboldened certain relevant parties to make provocations against China in order to achieve undeserved territorial gains.” At the same time Clinton, in Jakarta on Monday, called on China and Southeast Asian nations to avoid “coercion” and work together on a code to manage disputes in the South China Sea. Clinton, meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, repeated her view that the United States had a “national interest” in ensuring peace and stability in the tension-filled South China Sea. “We believe the nations of the region should work collaboratively together to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation, without threats and certainly without the use of force,” Clinton said. Clinton offered strong US support for a regionally endorsed plan to ease rising tensions by implementing a code of conduct for all claimants to disputed islands.(gulf today)