Robert Gates, US defence secretary, on Saturday warned that coercive diplomacy over energy resources in Asia could threaten the security and prosperity of the region.
Speaking to Asian defence and security officials in Singapore, Mr Gates stressed that the “foundation of prosperity” in the region had been built on “international norms” that needed to be preserved.
Mr Gates stressed that the US was still very much engaged in Asia despite concerns in the region that its attention had been diverted by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Any speculation in the region about the United States losing interest in Asia strikes me as either prosperous, or disingenuous, or both,” said Mr Gates.
While some Asian countries have worried about waning US interest in the region, Mr Gates, in a veiled criticism of China, raised concerns about tension within Asia over energy resources.
“In my Asian travels, I hear my hosts worry about the security implications of rising demand for resources, and about coercive diplomacy and other pressures that can lead to disruptive competitions,” said Mr Gates.
FT.com
