(VOVworld) - US Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has stressed that the US will not give up its Asia Pacific pivot strategy. Mr. Carter made the statement at a discussion on re-balancing the US forces held recently in Washington, DC. In his address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Tuesday, the US Deputy Defense Secretary said that the US saw long-term benefits in the Asia Pacific region and would maintain its pivot strategy in different fields, including economics, politics and defense, adding that the military re-balancing plans will not be affected by the US national defense budget cuts of 500 billion USD over the next ten years.

Ashton Carter- US Deputy Defense Secretary- Photo: FCW.com

Mr. Carter said that US strategy was not directed against any particular nation. Regarding disputes on the East Sea, the US Deputy Defense Secretary said: “We strongly support ASEAN unity and we applaud the efforts of ASEAN member nations to develop a Code of Conduct that would create a rule-based framework for regulating the parties in the East Sea. We welcome Chinese active participation in negotiation on it. Our position is clear and consistent. We called for restrain and diplomatic solutions. We oppose provocation, coercion and the use of force. We don’t take sides when it comes competing on territorial or historical claims, but we do take the sides of peaceful resolution of disputes in a manner consistent with the international law. We definitely prefer multilateral approaches in the appropriate way to deal with these historic issues. That’s why we also support the ASEAN process”.

Mr. Carter said that the Asia Pacific region plays a key role for the US and Washington pledged to ensuring the area’s safety, security and prosperity as well as promising to increase investment in this region in the coming years.