WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has emphasized that Asia is critical to the future of the United States, which has focused too much on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade, and that relationships with Korea and other regional allies are pivotal in Washington's efforts to maintain its leadership role.
In the November issue of Foreign Policy, published Tuesday, Clinton said the U.S. needs to be "smart and systematic" about where to invest time and energy.
"One of the most important tasks of American statecraft over the next decade will therefore be to lock in a substantially increased investment -- diplomatic, economic, strategic and otherwise -- in the Asia-Pacific region," she said. "The Asia-Pacific has become a key driver of global politics."
"Just as Asia is critical to America's future, an engaged America is vital to Asia's future," she added. "Our treaty alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines and Thailand are the fulcrum for our strategic turn to the Asia-Pacific."
The secretary pointed out the alliance with Seoul is broadening its scope.
"Our alliance with South Korea has become stronger and more operationally integrated, and we continue to develop our combined capabilities to deter and respond to North Korean provocations," she said. "We have agreed on a plan to ensure successful transition of operational control during wartime and anticipate successful passage of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. And our alliance has gone global, through our work together in the G-20 and the Nuclear Security Summit and through our common efforts in Haiti and Afghanistan."
The free-trade pact is expected to be ratified by the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, adding to the celebratory mood of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's state visit to Washington this week. Lee plans to have summit talks with President Barack Obama on Thursday, and he is scheduled to address a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives later in the day.
Clinton described the historic trade accord as one of the "cutting-edge trade deals that raise the standards for fair competition even as they open new markets."
It will support an estimated 70,000 American jobs and level the playing field for U.S. auto companies and workers, she added.
Clinton also noted the strategic importance of maintaining peace and security across the Asia-Pacific region.
"As for North Korea, the regime in Pyongyang has shown persistent disregard for the rights of its people, and we continue to speak out forcefully against the threats it poses to the region and beyond," she said. (Yonhap)