Article Posted on : - Sep 04, 2012

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA (PTI): The United States would "continue to invest" in long-term strategic partnership with India and also support its ability to serve as a regional economic anchor and provider of security in the broader Indian Ocean region, the Democratic Party Platform says.

"We will continue to invest in a long-term strategic partnership with India to support its ability to serve as a regional economic anchor and provider of security in the broader Indian Ocean region," says the 40-page Platform, similar to a party's election manifesto, to be adopted at the Democratic National Convention this week.

"As we have sought to re-balance our foreign policy, we have also turned greater attention to strengthening our alliances and expanding our partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region. In part, this is in recognition that the United States has been, and always will be, a Pacific power," it adds.

"And, in part, it is a recognition that America's future security and prosperity will be fundamentally interconnected with Asia given its status as the fastest growing economic region, with most of the world's nuclear powers and about half of the world's population," it says.

The document says President Barack Obama has therefore made a deliberate and strategic decision that the US will play a larger and long-term role in shaping this region.

"President Obama has made modernizing America's defense posture across the Asia-Pacific a top priority. We remain committed to defending and deepening our partnerships with our allies in the region: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand.

"We will maintain a strong presence in Japan and on the Korean Peninsula to deter and defend against provocations by states like North Korea, while enhancing our presence in Southeast Asia and in Australia," the platform says.

"We will also expand our networks of security cooperation with other emerging partners throughout the region to combat terrorism, counter proliferation, provide disaster relief, fight piracy, and ensure maritime security, including cooperation in the South China Sea," it adds.

Obama, the platform says, is committed to continuing efforts to build a cooperative relationship with China, while being clear and candid when we have differences.

The world has a profound interest in the rise of a peaceful and prosperous China, but Beijing must also understand that it must abide by clear international standards and rules of the road, the platform says.

"China can be a partner in reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, countering proliferation in Iran, confronting climate change, increasing trade, and resolving other global challenges. President Obama will continue to seek additional opportunities for cooperation with China, including greater communication between our militaries," it says.