Day 2 - October 28, 2010 -- Hawaii

Secretary of State Clinton’s Honolulu Speech to be Streamed Live Oct. 28

HONOLULU (Oct. 27, 2010) – U.S Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver a major policy speech in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, on Thursday, Oct. 28. Secretary Clinton's speech will be streamed live on this site starting at 8:15 a.m. Hawai‘i Standard Time (HST).  After the speech, a recorded video will remain posted for viewing.

Secretary Clinton is expected to speak on the next steps in the United States’ Asia-Pacific strategy. Her speech comes during the first stop of a two-week trip to Honolulu, Guam, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

The speech is being hosted by the East-West Center, in cooperation with Pacific Forum CSIS, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, the Japan-America Society of Hawai‘i, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, the APEC 2011 Hawai‘i Host Committee and the University of Hawai‘i.

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Speech starts in one hour....



-- Edited by Eminence on Thursday 28th of October 2010 06:43:28 PM

Day 2 - October 28, 2010 - Hawaii

U.S. not seeking to "contain" China: Clinton


U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gives a foreign policy speech regarding U.S.-Asia Pacific relations before her trip to the Asian Pacific region, in Honolulu, Hawaii October 28, 2010.

(Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denied on Thursday the United States was seeking to contain China as she began a two-week trip to an Asia-Pacific region rattled by recent Chinese assertiveness.

Washington and Beijing have clashed this year over issues including the value of China's currency, U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and U.S. President Barack Obama's February meeting with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

China's relations with its neighbors have also been strained by territorial disputes -- notably with Japan -- but also with South East Asian nations who have competing claims over the South China Sea.

The top U.S. diplomat, starting a trip to seven Asia-Pacific nations including China, sought to strike a balance between the U.S. desire to work with Beijing and its concerns about some Chinese policies.

"The relationship between China and the United States is complex and of enormous consequence and we are committed to getting it right," Clinton said in a speech on U.S. Asia-Pacific policy delivered in Honolulu.

"There are some in both countries who believe that China's interests and ours are fundamentally at odds. They apply a zero-sum calculation ... so whenever one of us succeeds, the other must fail," she said. "But that is not our view."

While saying the two nations work together on many issues, Clinton also alluded to their many differences, including U.S. desires to see the Chinese currency appreciate as well as U.S. criticism of China's human rights record.

"There are also many in China who still believe that the U.S. is bent on containing China and I would simply point out that since the beginning of our diplomatic relations, China has experienced breathtaking growth and development," she said.

"This is due, of course, to the hard work of the Chinese people. But U.S. policy has consistently -- through Republican and Democratic administrations and Congresses -- supported this goal since the 1970s," she said.

Clinton's trip began on Wednesday with a stop in Hawaii to meet Japan's foreign minister. On Thursday she continues to Vietnam for the East Asia summit and then heads to Cambodia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia.

While China was not originally on her itinerary, the State Department added a last-minute detour to China's Hainan Island on Saturday so Clinton could meet Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, a key figure in managing the strained U.S.-China relationship who will not attend the summit in Hanoi.

SEEKING COOPERATIVE SOLUTIONS

Sino-Japanese relations have been on edge since last month after Japan detained a Chinese trawler captain whose boat collided with Japanese patrol ships near the disputed islands -- called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Reports that China had curtailed its exports of so-called rare earth minerals, vital for the production of high-tech goods, to Japan following the dispute have rattled policy makers and markets fearing a scarcity of the commodities.

Clinton's speech made no reference to that dispute, but she made clear the U.S. view that China and its neighbors should work cooperatively to resolve their territorial disputes.

In Hanoi in July, Clinton signaled new U.S. engagement in the South China Sea issue, emphasizing that Washington believed territorial disputes in the region had global implications because of its key role as a trade and shipping crossroads and potentially rich source of natural resources.

Clinton said she was pleased by signs that China -- which initially told the United States to stay out of the disputes it argued should be dealt with bilaterally -- was willing to address them through regional groupings.

Built around this week's East Asia Summit in Hanoi, the Clinton's two-week trip is designed to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to the region as the United States, and other nations in the region, grapple with China's economic and military rise.

"There are some who say that this long legacy of American leadership in Asia Pacific is coming to a close -- that we are not here to stay. I say look at our record. It tells a very different story," Clinton said. "We are focused on a distant time horizon -- one that stretches out for decades to come."

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Hillary is now in Guam, meeting with their Governor and Armed Forces stationed in Guam.

Day 2 - October 28, 2010 - Guam

Secretary Clinton Makes A Brief But Welcome Stop On Guam

Guam - It was a brief, but welcome stop on Guam. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spent about 2 hours on the ground Friday afternoon.



She spoke to a few hundred troops representing the 4 branches of service who had crowded before the stage inside the Global Hawk Hanger at Andersen Air Force Base.

She thanked the troops for their service and she also gave a nod of thanks to the people of Guam.

Although she did not come outside the fence, Governor Felix Camacho and Lt. Governor Cruz spent about 15 private minutes sharing the islands concerns with her. Afterwards, the Governor told reporters that he spoke about the need for more federal funding for infrastructure and shared his opposition to the taking of any more Guam land by the military as well as opposition to the plans for dredging the area of Apra Harbour off Polaris Point. He also talked to her about the importance of granting a visa waiver for Chinese tourists. Camacho said she was receptive and informed, but made no promises. Camacho also said that he said he was impressed with her knowledge of the issues here.

A number of Guam lawmakers and business leaders were in the audience to hear Clinton's remarks. Among them Senators Rory Respicio and Judi Guthertz. Both Senators said they were not disturbed by her brief stop over.

"We're not disappointed at all, because any opportunity at all that we have to get our national leaders here on Guam we have to take advantage of it," said Senator Respicio.

And Senator Guthertz said she felt Clinton was asked by the White House to stop on Guam to give the President a better understanding of the buildup and its impact on the island.

Speaker Judi Won Pat and Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz also meet separately with Clinton. They presented her with resolution 444 which highlights the legislatures position on the military buildup.