By Shannon Tiezzi
John Kerry’s definition of the U.S. rebalance to Asia is far different from Hillary Clinton’s original description.
As my colleague Zach already noted, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivered an address on U.S.-China relations in Washington DC yesterday. While the majority of his speech was focused on the U.S.-China relationship in particular, Kerry also spent some time describing the U.S. “rebalance to Asia” – in in doing so, provided hints that the nature of this strategy has shifted since the “pivot to Asia” was first announced in 2011.
Kerry listed “four specific opportunities that define the rebalance”: in order, creating “sustainable economic growth” (with the Trans-Pacific Partnership as the signature initiative); combating climate change through a “clean energy revolution;” easing tensions “by strengthening the institutions and reinforcing the norms that contribute to a rules-based, stable region;” and ensuring that people throughout the Asia-Pacific region can “live with dignity security and opportunity.”
Just over three years ago, Kerry’s predecessor, Hillary Clinton, provided the original description of the “pivot to Asia.” In an article for Foreign Policy, Clinton listed six “key lines of action” for Washington’s new Asia strategy: “strengthening bilateral security alliances; deepening our working relationships with emerging powers, including with China; engaging with regional multilateral institutions; expanding trade and investment; forging a broad-based military presence; and advancing democracy and human rights.”
Read the full story at The Diplomat