U.S. POLICY TOWARD THE ASIA PACIFIC

It is time for America to join with...others in this region to create a New Pacific Community...built on shared effort, shared benefit and shared destiny.”

President Clinton
Waseda University, Tokyo
July, 1993

President Clinton has recognized that with the end of the Cold War, the Asia Pacific region is more important to American interests than ever before. In 1993, President Clinton launched a renewed and revitalized American engagement in the Asia Pacific, which has resulted in: the maintenance of U.S. troop levels, affirmation of the five core bilateral treaty alliances (Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Australia), a new security partnership with Japan for the 21st century, an annual summit process among leaders of the region under the APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) umbrella, closer ties to the dynamic economies of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), a working relationship with China, an agreement with North Korea that has frozen, and will dismantle, its nuclear weapons program, and new initiatives for peace on the Korean peninsula. The President has placed unprecedented emphasis on protecting our strategic and economic interests in Asia and strengthening our relationships with key allies and partners. The President has demonstrated that strong leadership can promote American economic interests while strengthening our vital security relationships at the same time. President Clinton has made clear: America will remain an Asia Pacific power.

A RECORD OF ACTION AND ACCOMPLISHMENT:

Maintaining the American Security Presence - Preserving the Peace

• Committed to keep U.S. troop levels in Asia at about 100,000, the same levels as maintained in Europe, because we have a vital interest in Asia’s stability and prosperity.

• Revitalized the U.S. security treaties with Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Australia and Thailand because these are the linchpins for sustaining peace.

• Recrafted and strengthened the U.S.-Japan security alliance to secure continued peace and stability in the region; to provide for greater Japanese support of American forces; and to adjust our force presence without sacrificing preparedness levels.

• Acted to reduce tensions in the Taiwan Strait by moving decisively to dispatch naval vessels to the region in response to Chinese efforts to intimidate the Taiwan elections process through military exercises.

• Removed one of the greatest threats to regional peace by reaching an accord with North Korea that freezes and then reverses its dangerous nuclear weapons program; established KEDO (Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization) as a consortium to implement the Agreed Framework to achieve a nuclear free Korean peninsula. We achieved this breakthrough by working closely with our allies, South Korea and Japan, and China.

• Announced with Korean President Kim Young Sam a peace proposal to bring a permanent and stable peace to the Korean peninsula, demonstrating a unprecedented degree of cooperation with our South Korean ally.

• Obtained Chinese support for stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction and are pressing Beijing to join the U.S. and others to conclude promptly a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

• Secured and retained renewal of China’s MFN (Most Favored Nation) status, to maintain the national security engagement with China necessary to advance our interests.

• Negotiated over 20 market access agreements with Japan, increasing U.S. exports by 85% in sectors covered by these agreements; vigorously pursued enforcement of Japanese commitments under those agreements.

• Concluded both the Uruguay Round and bilateral market access agreements with ASEAN countries.

• Negotiated an unprecedented intellectual property rights agreement with China and will vigorously enforce the provisions of the agreement to obtain the closure of pirating factories and the seizures of pirated goods targeted for export to Asia Pacific markets.

• Have track record of imposing strong penalties against those who violate intellectual property rights and other obligations under negotiated trade agreements.

• Instituted annual APEC economic leaders summit meetings and secured APEC’s commitment to achieve free trade and investment throughout the region by 2020.

• Supported national elections in Cambodia.

• Secured significant progress toward the fullest possible accounting for our personnel lost in the war in Indochina and normalized relations with Vietnam.

• Implemented the long-standing one China policy in a manner that deepened our strong ties with the people of Taiwan, including support for the first popular elections for president.

• Consistently supported Sino-British joint declaration as the cornerstone for Hong Kong’s future, including our support for human rights, the rule of law, and representative government in Hong Kong after July, 1997.

• Pursued our interests in human rights with Asian countries, including China, bilaterally and at the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

• Worked with countries throughout the region to combat narcotics trafficking, protect the environment and improve educational opportunities of our peoples.

Facts:

• For 50 years the U.S.-Japan alliance and our bilateral treaty structure has sustained peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. Seventy-five percent of the cost of keeping American troops in Asia is borne by Japan.

• The American military deterrent has created the security essential to peaceful political evolution and economic development in the Asia Pacific region, which accounts for one-half of the world’s population and economic output.

• Free elections have been held in Korea, Thailand, Philippines and Taiwan.

• 400,000 refugees returned from Thailand to Cambodia; levels of violence have been reduced dramatically; and free elections have been held.

• The ASEAN Regional Forum has been created, the region’s first broadly based consultative body concerned with security issues., reflecting this Administration’s readiness to use new multilateral institutions to help lessen tensions and promote cooperation.

• One third of all U.S. exports are destined for the Asia Pacific; these exports support nearly two and one-half million American jobs.

• Our deficit with Japan fell last year by almost 10 percent, the first time since 1990 that our annual bilateral trade deficit has decreased; U.S. exports to Japan have increased by 34 percent over the last three years.

• Two way trade with ASEAN countries, together our fourth largest trading partner, reached $84 billion in 1994, with the value of American exports rising more than 10 percent over 1993 levels.

• President Clinton initiated annual APEC leaders summits and APEC leaders have undertaken a political commitment to achieve free trade and investment throughout the region.

THE CHALLENGES AHEAD:

The Clinton Administration is committed to promoting an Asia Pacific community based on the shared goals of sustaining peace and stability, achieving prosperity for our peoples and promoting more open societies and accountable governments. We will seek to advance our national interests by:

• Maintaining our strategic engagement in the region through bilateral security treaties and shared participation in new regional security arrangements.

• Enforcing our trade agreements, negotiating greater market access for U.S. exports of goods and services.

• Pursuing open trade and investment in the region through the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

• Encouraging the expansion of the rule of law in business and society through bilateral and regional dialogues.

• Undertaking initiatives to control narcotics trafficking, prevent the spread of disease, protect the environment and cooperate to curb international crime.