Qa'dah 20, 1431 H/Oct 28, 2010, SPA -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left on Wednesday on a visit to Asia and the Pacific to strengthen ties with China's neighbors, which have become increasingly nervous surrounding Beijing's increasing assertiveness. Clinton leaves for the two-week, seven-nation tour designed in part to decrease regional concerns that as China's influence rises, Washington is retreating from its traditional role as the dominant Pacific Rim power. Clinton begins in Hawaii, where she will discuss regional security with top officials from the U.S. Pacific Command and Japan's new foreign minister. She is then going to Vietnam, whose relationship with Washington has slowed in recent years. She will meet briefly Saturday with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo on China's Hainan Island - a last-minute addition to the itinerary. Hainan is a powerful symbol of Chinese military might, hosting an array of intelligence and espionage facilities of the People's Liberation Army. It was also the place an American spy plane was forced to land in 2001 after it collided with a Chinese fighter jet. The 24 crew members were held for 11 days until the administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush issued an apology. More recently, disputes over islands between China, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations have led to a rise in maritime tensions with the United States. Washington's efforts to persuade China to revise its currency policy, as well as sharp differences over Tibet, human rights and climate change, have further divided the two countries. At the same time, the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama is trying to persuade Beijing to strengthen its support for sanctions against Iran and North Korea. Washington also wants to ensure that a state visit to the U.S. by Chinese President Hu Jintao in early 2011 is a success.
