U.S. Defense Secretary William S. Cohen conducted an important 12-day, seven-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific region in January 1998, visiting China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. During his travel he made it clear that the trip was intended to increase and enhance U.S. security ties in the Asia-Pacific region. The following are excerpts of his statements in each country:

"We hope that by lowering barriers, making our military systems more transparent to each other, by engaging in exercises and joint training, we will have friendships that will help in times of stress." U.S. Defense Secretary William S. Cohen

U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen visited seven nations in January 1998 to enhance security ties in the Asia-Pacific region. Here Minister of Defense Gen. Chi Haotian of China toasts the secretary, after signing a Military Maritime Consultative Agreement. Second row (L to R): Adm. Joseph Prueher, U.S. Commander in Chief, Pacific; Walter Slocombe, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; U.S. Ambassador James Sasser; and Lt. Gen. Xiong Guangkai, Deputy Chief of General Staff, People's Liberation Army; and other VIPs in the third row.

Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad greets U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the secretary's first stop.

"The value of our military presence to regional stability depends upon our operational flexibility and the reassurance and deterrence that such flexibility provides."

In remarks at the Pacific Dialogue Session on Security in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Secretary Cohen emphasized that the United States seeks to enhance defense cooperation not only in its bilateral relationships, but multilaterally as well. "Over a period of only a few years, multilateral fora have become an important--and permanent --feature of the regional security architecture, and ASEAN's activism in this has been essential," he said.

The United States is actively engaged in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF) and believes it has made substantial progress in fostering candid dialogue on issues of regional security concern. Secretary Cohen said the United States is comfortable with the pace of the ARF's evolution and the issues under discussion. "If the ARF is to take practical and substantive steps forward, the involvement of defense ministries and militaries is increasingly important as the ARF discusses in more detail cooperative activities and confidence-building measures," he said.

Secretary Cohen clearly stated that the United States will not support initiatives that would either undermine its operational flexibility or constrain its military posture. "The value of our military presence to regional stability depends upon our operational flexibility and the reassurance and deterrence that such flexibility provides," he said.

Secretary Cohen mentioned that the United States just concluded its first defense consultative talks with the Chinese Ministry of Defense. He said the United States encourages China to "reject a zero-sum attitude toward security by recognizing the common interests we all share in a stable environment that will allow our economies to prosper and our people to be enriched."

He noted that the United States and Australia have agreed to revitalize their alliance and re-orient it to the needs of the Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century.

Japan and the United States finalized the revised Guidelines for Defense Cooperation. Under these revised Japan-U.S. Guidelines, "we will take practical and substantive steps to prepare our alliance for the challenges of the future, from providing humanitarian relief to responding to regional crises that affect Japan's security," he said.

"The revised Guidelines," he said, "clearly serve the security and economic interests of the entire region, especially China, which has benefited more than any other country from the stability created by America's military engagement and presence throughout the region.

"The Asia-Pacific region has benefited enormously from economic integration," he said. "All of those benefits of integration, however, will be vulnerable to much greater risk unless we complete the construction of this regional security architecture and then continue to reinforce it over time."

Then Minister of Defense Edi Sudrajat escorts Secretary Cohen during an inspection of troops at the Ministry of Defense, Jakarta.

"(There is) no benefit to the United States or to the West if Asia is unstable. We are promoting prosperity and stability so that we can share in it."

"I came to talk about ways in which we could increase and enhance our bilateral relationships," Secretary Cohen said in remarks to the American Chamber of Commerce in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"What I am seeking to do is to build the bonds of friendship between our militaries and my counterparts in Malaysia, Singapore, and all of the other countries that I am visiting," he said of his two-week trip to the Asia-Pacific. "We hope that by lowering barriers, making our military systems more transparent to each other, by engaging in exercises and joint training, we will have friendships that will help in times of stress.

"There are bound to be difficulties, bound to be differences of opinion," he continued. "We have differences of opinion with Indonesia on the subject of human rights, for example. We have differences of opinion with China. We have differences with Japan. We have differences with virtually every country. But, as long as you are able to sit down at a table like this, because you have maintained your relationships, you're usually able to work them out in a peaceful fashion."

Secretary Cohen stressed the United States is firmly committed to the security and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. "(There is) no benefit to the United States or to the West if Asia is unstable," he said. "We are promoting prosperity and stability so that we can share in it."

Secretary Cohen meets with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong of Singapore.

The United States has become more actively engaged with more countries in the Asia-Pacific region than ever before, according to Secretary Cohen.

In remarks at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in Singapore he declared: "We have sustained and enhanced our engagement because we recognize it is in our national interest. Our regional partners have responded because they recognize it is in their national and collective interests."

He emphasized American confidence in the future of the Asia-Pacific region saying, "The energy, creativity and discipline of our Asian partners and allies continue undiminished. And with continued self confidence in these strengths and a determination to pursue the economically sound path, our partners and allies in Asia can emerge from the crucible of the current crisis fundamentally stronger."

He warned, however, that flashpoints remain from Korea to the Taiwan Straits that "if ignited, would have scorching effects on the security and economies in Asia, North America and around the globe. These high stakes lead directly to the second constant we must recognize, the integral role of American military power as a stabilizing force in the region."

Discussing the crucial role of strong bilateral relationships, Secretary Cohen stressed the importance of not only those maintained by the United States, "but increasingly, those between Korea and Japan, Japan and China, Russia and Japan." He said, "America's alliances with Japan, Korea, Australia, Thailand and the Philippines and many of our other bilateral relationships were forged in the Cold War to protect against a specific threat. But today they are not reactive, they are pro-active, standing not against anyone, but standing for shared objectives. We have worked hard to strengthen these bilateral relationships and to orient them to the requirements of a new era and a new century."

Referring to the interest of some that multilateral security dialogues and cooperation become the primary feature of regional stability, he noted, "The United States views these multilateral mechanisms as important, and having a greater role to play in the future. But we also believe that they will be successful only if they are built upon the foundation of solid bilateral relationships and a continued U.S. forward presence in the region."

Secretary Cohen discussed the growing importance of Southeast Asia, saying, "Over the last 30 years, ASEAN has developed into a multifaceted power center in its own right, one that is integral to the entire Asia-Pacific. Given our shared interests, we look forward to Southeast Asia as an increasingly important partner and facilitator of the U.S. forward presence through such activities as port calls, repair, training and logistics support."

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of Thailand speaks at a dinner for Secretary Cohen in Bangkok. Deputy Minister of Defense Gen. Watanachai Wootsiri sits nearby.

"The United States' commitment to Thailand and to Southeast Asia is strong and enduring in both good times and bad."

The United States and Thailand share a commitment to democracy, regional stability, and prosperity, according to Secretary Cohen.

"The United States' commitment to Thailand and to Southeast Asia is strong and enduring in both good times and bad. We have learned from experience that your prosperity contributes to our prosperity, and that your security contributes to our security," he declared in a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

"Security, of course, has many elements--military, diplomatic, social and economic," he continued. "This visit has given me insight into Thailand's current economic problems and the reforms that are underway to solve those problems. The United States stands ready to help Thailand regain its economic strength." He cited recent discussions on the F-18 program as an example of Thai-U.S. cooperation.

"The challenges that Thailand faces are not easy, but I am leaving Bangkok convinced that the government of Thailand is determined to put sound economic reforms in place and to build a foundation for a prosperous and secure future."

"... the American commitment to the region, demonstrated in the past, will continue now and into the future, serving as an anchor of stability amidst the storm."

President Jiang Zemin of China greets Secretary Cohen in Beijing.

Secretary Cohen sought to assure leaders in Asia "that the American commitment to the region, demonstrated in the past, will continue now and into the future, serving as an anchor of stability amidst the storm."

"Our forward-deployed posture supports our strategy of engagement in the Asia-Pacific region that we pursue through our bilateral alliances and security relationships, our participation in interlocking multilateral security fora, and our strategic engagement of China," Secretary Cohen said in a speech before the Academy of Military Sciences in Beijing, People's Republic of China.

"Today," he observed, "China is an Asian power, and rightfully so. The United States does not fear this, nor do we view China as an adversary. Rather, the U.S. seeks to encourage China to step forward as a responsible and cooperative great nation."

He mapped out a threefold approach to U.S. engagement with China, saying, "deepening our current joint efforts, modestly broadening them into new areas, and advancing from confidence building to real-world cooperation--offers a way to build upon the significant accomplishments of the past year in a manner that serves our mutual interests."

Emphasizing the need for openness, Secretary Cohen asserted, "Experience has taught us that dealing with a partner requires openness and confidence. It may seem strange to some that the United States is so open about our strategy, policies, doctrine, capabilities and facilities--including the Pentagon, itself.

"Allowing others to see our peaceful intentions and our military capability helps to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation resulting from either unfounded fear or misinformed folly," he added.

"Our two nations have already taken several steps to increase mutual confidence and decrease miscalculation," he said. "Since General Chi's visit to Washington just over a year ago, we have had an unprecedented number of exchanges of senior level officials and officers.

"And the exchange program that is being worked on for the coming year would expand upon this even further, bringing senior defense policy officials together, senior military officials together, and operational military officers together, as well."

"Our forward-deployed posture supports our strategy of engagement in the Asia-Pacific region that we pursue through our bilateral alliances and security relationships, our participation in interlocking multilateral security fora, and our strategic engagement of China."

The U.S. security policy in Asia rests on four essential pillars:

• bilateral relations,

• multilateral relations,

• engagement with China, and

• control of weapons of mass destruction

Secretary Cohen is welcomed by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto of Japan at his residence in Tokyo.

The U.S. security policy in Asia rests on four essential pillars: bilateral relations, multilateral relations, engagement with China, and control of weapons of mass destruction, according to Secretary Cohen.

"The forward presence of nearly 100,000 American troops in the Asia-Pacific region is the foundation that supports these four pillars," he said in a press conference in Tokyo, Japan.

He stressed that the security alliance between the United States and Japan is critical to regional stability.

"Peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region rests on leadership from the United States and Japan, and our alliance has never been stronger," he observed.

In a joint news conference with Republic of Korea President Kim Young Sam in Seoul, Secretary Cohen stated: "I think that it is appropriate that we are standing side-by-side just as [our] soldiers have stood side-by-side in defense of the Republic of Korea. Our countries are allied by a commitment to democracy, peace and prosperity.

"In my meetings with President Kim Young Sam, President-elect Kim Dae Jung, and Foreign Minister Yoo, I emphasized the United States' determination to stand by the Republic of Korea, in good times and bad. The continued cooperation between our countries is the key to maintaining the stability of the Korean Peninsula.

"I was very impressed by President-elect Kim's determination to solve the current economic problems. The Republic of Korea's economy has many underlying strengths and the United States is working with your government in the IMF to put South Korea back on a sound economic footing so that you can continue your march to greater prosperity. I was also impressed by President-elect Kim's commitment to maintaining a strong and ready deterrent force despite the economic challenges that you currently are facing. Working together, our forces could overwhelm any attack from the North. Our soldiers are well-trained, they are well-commanded, and well-equipped and we must preserve that advantage. And finally, I welcome the President-elect's support for a strong, enduring security alliance, including the long-term presence of U.S. soldiers on the peninsula."

Secretary Cohen meets with then President-elect Kim Dae Jung of Korea in Seoul, his final stop.

Summary

Thus, in a period of great economic turmoil in Asia and concern for regional stability, the U.S. Defense Secretary brought a message of assurance of America's concern, and U.S. willingness to enhance security ties throughout the region, "serving as an anchor of stability against the storm."