US to step up influence in East Asia

Obama wants to boost military, economic foothold in the region

BEIJING - The United States aims to strengthen its economic and military foothold in the Asia-Pacific region, analysts said, following announcements made by US President Barack Obama during the APEC meetings last week and before Saturday's East Asia Summit.

Obama on Thursday declared in a speech to the Australian Parliament that "the United States is a Pacific power, and we are here to stay".