The strategic importance of the emerging Pacific

US Department of State Bulletin, Dec, 1986

The Strategic Importance of the Emerging Pacific

Address before a conference cosponsored by the Georgetown University Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Pacific Islands Association on September 29, 1986. Mr. Sigur is Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

I am delighted to have this opportunityto address you this morning on the strategic importance of the Pacific region as we in this Administration see it. It seems to me particularly timely to devote a forum to the discussion of developments in Oceania--the nations and islands of the Pacific. In both economic and political terms, they are an increasingly valuable part of the emerging Asian-Pacific profile on the world stage. As our attention becomes focused more and more on the Asian and Pacific region generally, we recognize full well the role being played by the smaller oceanic entities in the emergence of that area. The United States is actively engaged in consultations with our island friends on a broad range of common interests and concerns.

We are proud of our historic associationwith the area. The United States paid a precious price in the Pacific 45 years ago. We have assisted the islands in their social and commercial development to improve the livelihoods of their people, and we have helped wherever we could to ease their transition to full sovereignty. We maintain ongoing political and commercial relations with the region on a mutually beneficial basis. To the extent that issues arise, as they do in any normal relationship, we will address them candidly and sensitively. In short, this Administration welcomes the "emergence' of the Pacific, and we are confident of its positive consequences.

U.S. Interests and Involvement

Let me step back now, for a moment,and look at the larger picture of America's growing interest and involvement in the entire Asian-Pacific region. Contrary to the fears of many 10 years ago, we never "abandoned' our Asian commitments. There was a period of reassessment, but our fundamental linkage to the economic and security interests of the region was deeply rooted and inseverable. The remarkable progress achieved throughout the region in the post-Vietnam era heralds a new and significant role for it in the decades ahead, and our national interests there have evolved accordingly.

Today, the implications of dailyevents in Asia and the Pacific are truly global. The economic, political, social, cultural, and security developments of the region all impact on the international system and influence, in some way, our own lifestyles and policies in this country. We cannot afford to regard the area casually as we deliberate our labor policies, trade strategies, or security provisions. Nearly every event that occurs there must be factored into our own national planning. In very many respects, we depend on the Asian-Pacific region, just as it depends on us. Our relationship is one of broad interdependence and reciprocal influence. The United States must respond realistically to this fact.

Our own interests and goals in theAsian and Pacific region have been carefully identified, and they must be just as clearly articulated so that they are well understood by all. The United States has an abiding interest in the continuing peace, political stability, and economic prosperity of the entire region. For this reason, we actively strive to nurture closer cooperation and consultations on a broad spectrum of common concerns. In support of our many defense commitments, we seek to maintain the overall strategic balance among major powers in the region which ensures our own operational ability, maneuverability, and access in time of crisis. This important goal necessarily depends upon the reliability of our regional partners in shouldering their portion of political and security responsibilities. And, of course, we endorse and support broader democratization and respect for human rights wherever deficiencies exist, as well as the strengthening of the open market trading system for greater common prosperity.

For our part, we pledge sensitiveleadership and ample support to our regional friends without attempting to dictate or dominate local processes. We do not consider the Pacific an "American lake' but do acknowledge our responsibilities and legitimate national interests there. We are a Pacific nation, and have been, historically. We are proud of that fact and proud of the contributions we have made to the welfare and development of the region.

Micronesian Relations

In Micronesia, the United States hasbeen working closely with the several governments of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to forge a new political relationship. Be it the commonwealth status the peoples of the Northern Mariana Islands have chosen or the freely associated relationship preferred by the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, these new relationships represent the clearly stated will of the Micronesian people as expressed in a series of UN-observed plebiscites held over the past several years. The Reagan Administration is proud of the role it has played in bringing the political aspirations of the peoples of the trust territory to fruition, and it joins with the leaders of the region in rejecting the demands of the Soviet Union that these aspirations be arbitrarily denied.