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Published on 08-03-2019 03:02 AM
U.S. State Department Officials give Background Briefing to Traveling Press | site |
Bangkok, Thailand - - (August 2, 2019) - - Today, the U.S. Department of State published the following transcript of a special briefing provided (by senior State Department officials) to the traveling press:
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL TWO: The last two days build on what began last year, which is the launch of a strategic engagement with the region under the heading of the Indo-Pacific strategy. And over the past year, we’ve seen significant advances in complementary moves by other powers in the region, including Japan, India, Australia, but more importantly, among Southeast Asian states, an awareness of the importance of working more aggressively towards regional development, economic integration, and a common position on the key security questions of the day, to include transparent negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Seas, and an emphasis on diversification and balancing of economic ties and awareness of the danger of embracing China too closely.
The discussions that took place over the two days reflected that evolution, with a keen awareness of the importance of keeping the forward momentum going.
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL ONE: [Senior State Department Official Three], do you have anything to add? No. Okay. Jump in.
QUESTION: As far as that code of conduct goes, what’s the U.S. position? I know that there were some advancements earlier in the week between China and ASEAN. Do we feel like that’s something that we have a role in? Do we feel like we’re being kind of cut out of that process?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL THREE: We’re privy to the discussions, but clearly not part
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