The United States should consider other regional powers when developing ties in Asia, China said Thursday, after US President Barack Obama declared the region his top security priority.
But the foreign ministry stopped short of criticising Obama after he told Australia’s parliament that the US was “here to stay” as a Pacific power.
“When developing state-to-state relations, one should take into account the interests of other countries as well as the whole region, and peace and stability of the region,” ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters.
Liu was responding to a question at a briefing on Obama’s speech in Australia, during which the US President signalled a pivotal US shift to Asia.
“We think we should further deepen and enhance the cooperation between China and the United States, as well as China and Australia, because it is not only in the interests of our three countries, but of all countries in the region,” said Liu.
His comments came hours after Obama pledged not to let Washington’s budget crunch compromise his expansive vision and military presence in the region.
On Wednesday, the US said it would deploy up to 2,500 Marines to northern Australia.
US moves to boost its influence in the Asia-Pacific have been welcomed by some countries in the region rattled by China’s rise, but raised hackles in Beijing.
China’s official comments have been relatively mild, but the country’s state media has gone further, accusing Obama of trying to win votes by using his diplomatic ambitions in Asia to detract from his country’s economic woes.
The official Xinhua news agency said in a commentary Wednesday the US had “yet to reassure the region its Asia-Pacific policy would effectively serve regional stability and prosperity”.
