WORLD> Asia-Pacific
Gates says US remains engagement with Asia-Pacific
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-31 11:21

SINGAPORE -- US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told an Asian security summit Saturday that the United States will remain strong engagement in the Asia-Pacific region no matter who will be the next president.

"Any future US administration's Asia security policy is going to be grounded in the fact that the United States remains a nation with strong and enduring interests in this region -- interests that will endure no matter which political party occupies the White House next year," Gates said.

Speaking at the annual Asian Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, Gates said Asia has become the center of gravity in a rapidly globalizing world, and the United States is a Pacific nation with an enduring role in Asia.

"For those who worry that Iraq and Afghanistan have distracted the United States from Asia and developments here, I would counter that we have never been more engaged with more countries," he said.

The three-day conference, organized by the London-based think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), has brought together Gates, and the defense ministers and military officials of 26 other countries, including China.

On the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Gates noted the US drive to temper North Korea's nuclear ambitions will be not possible "without China's valued cooperation".

He also spoke of openness in military modernization in Asia. " Transparency enhances confidence and reduces competitive arms spending. The same applies to the way in which sovereign governments make their national security decisions."