Secretary of State Kerry to speak at East-West Center

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to deliver a major policy address at Hono­lulu’s East-West Center on Wednesday after several meetings and visits with Asian-Pacific leaders.

The focus of the address will be U.S. Asia-Pacific policy, East-West Center spokes­man Derek Ferrar said.

As the United States reduces its military presence in Iraq and Af­ghani­stan, President Barack Obama has been pivoting toward the Asia-Pacific region and strengthening alliances with Australia, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea.

The Obama administration has also softened policy stances and worked with nations such as China, which recently participated in the Rim of the Pacific multination exercises for the first time, the institute said.

New Zealand, once denied access to Pearl Harbor because it banned U.S. nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ships in its own ports, was a full participant in the 2014 exercises.

"Re-balance to the Asia-Pacific is a lot more than just about military, but the military part of it is moving forward," Navy Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander of the Hawaii-based U.S. Pacific Command, told the news media last week.

As its navy expands, China is claiming historical rights to natural-resource areas, including the South China Sea, where a conflict has developed with Vietnam.

Exxon and its partner PetroVietnam have been drilling for oil in the South China Sea, which has an estimated 11 billion barrels in oil reserves, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

From Friday to Wednesday, Kerry will be traveling to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, to meet with the country’s leaders and attend various meetings with Asian countries, including the 21st session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and East Asia Summit ministerial meetings.

Kerry will also be involved in a series of bilateral meetings, the State Department said.

The State Department said one of the key aspects of the U.S. commitment in Asia is to promote peace, stability and prosperity.

Myanmar is in the midst of demo­cratic reforms that could lead it away from major financial dependency on China, according to political observers.

India’s external affairs minister, Sushma Swa­raj, will also be paying an official visit to Myanmar on Friday to hold bilateral talks with her counterpart, according to the NetIndian News Network.

Kerry will be traveling to Australia to join U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel for an annual meeting with Australian officials about regional and global issues, including cooperation in security.

Before visiting Honolulu, Kerry plans to travel to the Solo­mon Islands to meet with government leaders and attend wreath-laying ceremonies at the Gua­dal­canal American Memorial and Solo­mon Scouts and Coastwatchers Memorial.