east some are already seeing that america's terminations to stay in the region in fact expand its presence in the pacific in the asia pacific region. right there in seoul south korea thank you very much. eric sirota and co-founder of the campaign to end the korean war believes u.s. involvement in military games in the korean peninsula is aimed at spreading its influence in the asia pacific region. they has its eyes on china it has its eyes on maintaining its military superiority in the region you have to remember that south korea is the largest purchaser of conventional weapons from the united states than any other country in the world there's a lot of money involved in this process and there is an eye on china to kind of flex the muscles and show that the u.s. still has hope for a role in the region and we really need to find a way back to the table not see individual acts as a provocation north korea has a right to put a satellite into space as other nations do but unless demilitarized that's a look at the base issues let's look at getting a peace treaty to end the korean war finally and then i think these kinds o

be especially towards the asia pacific region, as you stated, the future of politics will be decided in asia not in afghanistan or iraq. and the united states will be right at the center of the action. thanks to your effort madam secretary, i believe the united states will be front and center. so i thank you for bucking tradition for your first trip overseas, on your firsts trip, you visited asia to convey a strong message america's relationship is important and in your many trips since then, from china to south korea to japan and beyond, you've been about making the approximacommitment will be important many times over, i applaud you in recognizing the importance of the asian countries in the undertaking and in the foreign relations budget hearing i quote what you say, those that say we can no longer to engage in the world have it backward. we cannot afford not to. from opening new market s for american businesses, to curbing nuclear proliferation to keep the sea lanes free for commerce and navigation, our work abroad holds the key to our prosperity and security at home. i want to kn

so i wan to thank you for reestablishing america's influence abroad especially towards the asia pacific region. as you aptly stated, and i quote, the future of politics will be decided in asia, not in afghanistan or iraq. and the united states will be right at the center of the action. thanks to your efforts, madam secretary, i believe the united states will be front and center, so i thank you for bucking tradition for your first trip overseas. on your first trip overseas you visited asia to convey a strong message that america's relationship across the asia pacific region are in dispen dispensable in your many trips since then, cambodia, myanmar, south korea, japan and beyond you have been about the commitment of making strategic commitments that will pay dividends many times over. i applaud you for recognizing the importance of pacific island nations in this multifaceted undertaking and in the context of this hearing with the foreign relations budget hearing i reiterate what you stated and i quote, those who say we can no longer afford to engage with the world have it exactly backward. we ca

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looks at what the united states is really trying to do is to heighten its presence in the region particularly in the asia pacific region and they're also fears that such plans will not go down well with china and russia who see it as a threat to their security or also course reminder that moscow is already unpopular with the u.s. plans to build a missile shield in eastern europe and that was one of the marines markets of discussion between president obama on the first date. off the summit and there was of course the now infamous remark which was that off thread created by president obama who seemed to say that he cannot deal with the issue of missile defense at the moment because of the elections here and today there is getting a statement that he is saying again on the matter of american specialists and that area will be working closely together with the russians over the next nine to ten months in order to solve the issue of missile defense that bases in europe by twenty eight thirteen we're very close here of kin the co-founder of a campaign to end the korean war but the u.s. involvement in military g

looks at what the united states is really trying to do is to heighten its presence in the region particularly in the asia pacific region. it has been doing so right now in three bases out in australia i don't he has more than twenty thousand military personnel think friends in south korea so by the looks that washington really wants to make its presence known in the asian region for eric singer of kin the co-founder of a campaign to end the korean war and the u.s. involvement in military games in the korean peninsula is aimed at spreading its influence in the asia pacific region a u.s. has its eyes on china it has its eyes and maintaining its military superiority in the region you have to remember that south korea is the largest purchaser of conventional weapons from the united states and any other country in the world there's a lot of money involved in this process and there is an eye on china to kind of flex their muscles and show that the u.s. still has. a role in the region and we really need to find a way back to the table not see individual acts as a provocation north korea has a right to put a sat

he said the two countries are indispensable partners for economic development in the asia pacific regionmbers of a japanese delegation will also visit malaysia and the philippines. their tour lasts through saturday. >>> after days of chilly weather it's surprisingly warm in tokyo today. sayaka mori joins us now with the weather forecast for here and elsewhere. sayaka. >> yes. it's getting bright and sunny here in tokyo. a low pressure system that has brought widespread showers is moving out to sea and things are getting dryer across most of the nation. however, a low pressure system is set to move into northern japan that will produce a wintry mix from tonight. the korean peninsula will get dry on wednesday. the temperatures will be on -- on the increase as we head into saturday. and heavy rain continues in southern china. some areas may be seeing as much as 100 millimeters in the next 24 hours. now, moving on to the americas it's settled across the western u.s. but we have a very active low pressure system moving along the u.s.-canada border and a very active low pressure -- cold front,

but our second priority is our relationship with the asia-pacific region and when we talk about asia-pacific, we are talking about from the indian subcontinent to the americas. we want to expand it the aperture of what this means to the united states. so we are helping lead a governmentwide effort to build a new network of relationships and insti tuitions that spans the pacific to complement is the success of our durable atlantic partnership. we are strengthening our alliances in asia, launching new strategic dialogues and coming initiatives, creating and joining important, multilateral institutions to underscore that america is and will remain a pacific power. in the coming century, no region will be more con see wental to america's future. this is not just a concern for eap, it's also for you know, wha and sca, but it's really for all of us because the security and economic interestsing will affect everything we do everywhere. so we have to engage you in our efforts. and we've reached out to, for example, eur to help us with an asia dialogue with the eu. we're working hard with our friends

region. and the mission of our alliance remains today as it was six decades ago. mission of the alliance remains the same today as six decades ago. the department of defense rebalance towards the asia pacific region as laid out in the defense strategic guidance is a reafter mission of our commitment to the korean ally and our mission on the korean peninsula. as president obama stated during a joint press conference with president lee in seale two days ago, the united states as a pacific nation if x will play a larger and long-term role in shaping the region and its future. the cornerstone of our efforts is our strong alliances including our alliance with republican korea. the maker forces in korea for efficient and effective and then presence, power projection and deterants in the region. north korea's provocative behavior, large conventional military, proliferation activities, and pursuit of asymmetric advantages through the ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction program including uranium enrichment continue to present a serious threat to the united states, our allies and the region as a whole. it was almost two years ago that north korea brazenly sank the rock naval ve

summit mostly trying to push america's agenda when it comes to expanding its influence in the region that is in asia in the pacific region and in the middle east again they're talking about putting radars. on and south korea considering there already have thousands of troops on the ground in south korea and thinking of putting more naval sits on a base that's being built there of course such plans are causing concern in moscow who are very not happy with the plans for the missile defense shield in europe of course that was one of the reasons one of the main topics of discussion seventeen presidents obama and the first place on monday are behind closed doors and they were hoping to keep them that way but the conversation between the two presidents was leaked and it's hard to media frenzy in the united states of course some of alma's opponents particularly mitt romney example the bandwagon used this as an opportunity to bash obama for supposedly not being realistic but of course the white house was very quick to refute. that statement by mitt romney saying that. not so that russia is not the united st

we are going to maintain and even enhance our presence in vital regions of the world like the middle east, the asia- pacific region, to develop an innovative force that will establish partnerships and a presence from europe to africa, from latin america to east asia. let me be clear -- we will be able to defeat any adversary, anytime, anywhere. we must continue to invest in new capabilities like cyber and unmanned systems, space, the continued growth of special operations forces. those technologies will be crucial to our ability to have a strong defense in the future. and we also need to be able to mobilize. that means maintaining a strong national guard. a strong reserve. maintaining our industrial base. so that if we need the ships and tanks, the equipment, that industrial base will be there and we will have the skills and the crafts that are so important to our national securities, not just now but in the future. to do this, we have to make some painful and politically tough decisions. and we have. i cannot cut $500 billion from the defense budget and not have its impact on the 50 states in some

he declared the two countries are indispensable partners for economic development in the asia pacific region. >>> one of japan's biggest mobile phone carriers is getting into the solar power business. softbank says it will build four solar energy plants as it branches into renewable energy ventures. construction of two plants starts next month. one plant is in kyoto, western japan. the other is gunma, near tokyo. the company aims to start operations in july and then sell the energy to power companies. softbank says its station in kyoto will generate enough electricity to support 1,000 households annually. the gunma facility will be able to power 640 households. the schedule to build two other plants in toke oshima prefecture in western japan is not yet decided. it's expected those facilities together will be able to power over 1500 households. >>> and share prices are actually in the negative now here in tokyo this tuesday morning. the nikkei now in the negative by but less than 1 point at 9697. the broader topix also in the negative at 832. earlier markets were up. market sources say invest

support and said the two countries are in dispensable partners for economic development in the asia pacific region. >>> one of japan's biggest mobile phone carriers is getting into the solar power business. soft bank says they will build four solar energy plants as it branches into renewable energy ventures. construction of two plants starts next month. one in kyoto, the other near tokyo. the company aims to start operations in july and sell the energy to power companies. soft bank says its station in kyoto will generate enough electricity annually to support 1,000 households. the guma will be able to power 640 households. they're scheduled to build two other plants in tokushima prefecture. western japan is not yet decided. it is expected those facilities together will be able to power over 1500 households. >>> south korea's kospi just opened. let's look at those levels. more news next hour. back to catherine. >> thanks very much, ai. >>> nhk found at least five starved to death in the evacuation zone around the fukushima daiichi nuclear plant. police and medical authorities examined the bodies. t

is looking to increase its presence in in asia particularly in the asia pacific region if you look at what's going on in south korea for example the base that is being built which housed u.s. naval ships and you have to remember the twenty eight thousand u.s. troops are still already stationed here and there's also plans to put more than twenty five hundred military personnel in australia over the next six years so a lot of people are saying that's why this harsh criticism or to north korea the united states is actually showing china that it's still mighty in the region in its keeping its presence here in asia and that it's also keeping an ever watchful eye on china and u.s. presence tried with support from china to increase pressure on north korea to real alternation specialist oldest is legally rogue exactions. the koreans quite correctly distinguished menace are. right wrong. and i mean it's interesting the americans got through the sanctions on korea a few years back. when france and they will launch a satellite in the night and said no no this disarm or. after the events on the t

this was at a time, obviously, where we're shifting our focus to the asia pacific region, and, this is a local lay pan fregs of in the middle east and area jords the. >> the asia pacific would get most of the attention, so it's the report of the world, that we would have to record, to pay enough doet in. not only speak about. isn't that trite,al miller? >> well, i'm very concerned about the proposal in the 13 budget where they will bring our production rate and this is this production rate for under the circumstancesing you ah eye. it was all about the sum. >> it was about the numbers we handed you and nothing we would do in terms of capacity to protect -- to have a full, robust force of where we would want to be as we looked forward. isn't that right ? >> that's a concern, senator. >>. by just being handed a number by congress. are we taking on additional sh by doing this? >> there is risk, as you pensioned it the essence and capacity that is something the look ate consequence trattle to 13. i wanted to ask all of you in, in. last year the navy announced the plands to play six 16 ship

what we in the west called an evil east the arab league the very close link with central asia with regional powers like turkey and specially with russia and china in terms of trade in terms of dealing with oil and energy and they are not part of us here of influence and this is the u.s. military mission we want to have a lot of we have until late seventy eight early seventy's night this means our agenda of the gulf as the shelf iran was caught so it's still a cold war mindset the washington least they're still sinking lake of where thirty two years ago and this is not going to happen well we're glad that this time supplemented if we find a future but i think pack a are really quite quickly when i ask you what it takes for the so-called axis of evil as it's been dubbed to be seen as less of a crap. well there is no axis of evil if this was a rhetorical. new york on's imaginations in the early two thousand and two north korea the whole thing is there's going to be a real. peace agreement between the north korea and us because the korean war technically is not all iraq the whole thing is over

come and say, that meeting in san francisco with all of those important people from across the asia-pacific region said something that had never been said before. they did not just as there that involving women was a good thing to do or the right thing to do. they put their heads together and came up with a declaration committing themselves to really tackle the obstacles, because it will benefit the people we all represent. and then we need to measure our progress to be sure that we are tracking what we care

i think more work would be done to the asia pacific region, why we intended more rrc i don't want to be too -- it's is second part, translating strategy and requesting where iy little idea what the department of defense and the administration more generally came up with each of those spending requests. that sort o clarity, i think many of us are inclined to fall back on back of the envelope sort of shorthand things, what percentage of gdp are we spending on military. that strikes me as a superficial way to determine how much we ugt to be spending on our military. would you agree with that statement? that's not a strategy based assessment, a percentage of gdp? >> no. >> what about imps to the level of military spending in other countries, is that also superficial? >> it is. >> so in following our oversight role here. like all in congress, we would benefit from your analysis here. how you translated your strategy into spending requests. i sense this is a frankly, we went through that process with each of the service chiefs, we can sit down with you, we actually have a report that lists

the ambassador said the north's action is a threat to peace and stability in the asia pacific region. he said he will order the self-defense forces to prepare to intercept any falling debris from the rocket. he added that the defense ministry is considering deploying destroiyers with a complete air defense system off the southern islands. he sa south korea says it will work with other countries to persuade north korea to scrap the launch plan. >>> the south korean foreign minister says he has discussed the issue with china, japan, russia and the united states. >> translator: the nations shares a common understanding that what north korea calls a satellite launch would violate u.n. security council resolutions. we will continue discussing the matter based on this understanding. >> the resolutions adopted two years ago ban any use of ballistic missile technology by north korea. the country says the launch is for the peaceful use of space. south korea strongly opposes the launch saying it is designed to develop technology for ballistic missiles that could carry nuclear weapons. u.n. secr

are fao director general, vietnamese prime minister and officials from 40 countries in the asia pacific region. delegates have agreed that the fight against hunger is undermined by rising food and oil price. the impact of climate change and trade policies. the agency says 600 million people are suffering from hunger and mall nutrition in the asia pacific. it says food prices have doubled over the past decade. thai government is discussing ways to deal with the steep rise in food prices. farm produce, processed food and meat rose about 12% in january prompting a series of protests. the prime minister ordered her cabinet to identify the cause of the hike within the supply chain. the commerce ministry reported earlier on friday that the trend is set to continue because of rising fuel prices. man goal ya's 13th ice festival took place near the country's most scenic lake. the event aims to promote awareness of the lake's ecosystem and preserve natural beauty. about 100,000 people enjoyed the ice sculptures, skating and ceremonies. the highlight of the event was a race between horse drawn sleighs. t

is looking to increase its presence in asia particularly in the asia pacific region if you look at what's going on in south korea for example the base that is being built which housed u.s. naval ships and you have to remember that twenty eight thousand u.s. military personnel already stationed here and there's also plans to put more than twenty five hundred military personnel in australia over the next six years so a lot of people are saying that's why this harsh criticism or to north korea the united states is actually showing china that it's still mighty in the region and it's keeping its presence here in asia and that it's also keeping an ever watchful eye on china really correspond to the sort of progression. forward developed. atomic clouds. can see right through fields its intentions. will north korea into the fold. the two thousand and twelve nuclear security summit. on r.t. . next better off dead that's the message from the israeli military when it comes to their own troops since last year's deal which saw one israeli soldier exchange for more than a thousand palestinian prisoners

is looking to increase its presence in asia particularly in the asia pacific region if you look at what's going on in south korea for example the base that is being built which many house u.s. naval ships you have to remember the twenty eight thousand u.s. military personnel already stationed here and there's also plans to put more than twenty five hundred military personnel in australia over the next six years so a lot of people are saying that by this harsh criticism or north korea the united states is actually showing china that it's still mighty in the region in its keeping its presence here in asia and that it's also keeping an ever watchful eye on china. over the course of the u.s. presidents try to win support from china to increase pressure on north korea to be a war through an asia specialist told legally wrong in. trying to do. the koreans right quite correctly distinguished in this are satellite satellite. and. i mean it's interesting the americans got through the sanctions on korea few years back. and koreans and they will not use satellite and american said no no this disarm.

amphibious ships to the marine corps and cuts without compensation for them puts our goals in the asia pacific region at greater risk. first on the f-35 joint strike fighter program. about 50% of the work needed to build all 32 jets under the fourth lot of early production aircraft is completed. including the cost of design changes driven by discoveries. the total cost of finishing lot four is estimated at $500 million over the target cost. the high likelihood that currency costs which was strongly objected to by this committee and me in particular at the time that it was decided upon, although stoutly defended by the navy and marine corps at the time. those costs will continue to grow now acknowledged by the head of acquisition and the pentagon malpractice. the high likelihood that these costs will continue to grow preventing future cost growth in the f-35 program is imperative. because of delays in the program, the navy has decided to buy more fa-18 and the marine buying more aircraft for spare parts. the air force is investing f-16s to fill f-35 deliveries. i would be interested again to hear from

a lot of you are expanding into growth markets, in emerging markets in asia pacific region. but many of you, at least privately, have indicated to me that it gets harder and harder to do business there in terms of protecting your intellectual property, competing against indigenous innovation laws. and so what we are doing is setting up a trade enforcement unit to aggressively investigate and counter unfair trade practices all around the world, including in countries like china. and if you're a ceo that's willing to bring jobs back to america, we want to do everything we can to help you succeed. that means working together to reform our tax system so that we are rewarding companies that are investing here in the united states, making sure that we are able to cut our tax rate here but also broaden the base. that is going to be a difficult task. anybody who has been involved in tax discussions in any legislature, but especially congress, knows that it's like pulling teeth. but it is the right thing to do for us to become more competitive. we're also going to have to make signif

proposal to deploy marines to an island, as part of a plan to reposition marines in the asia pacific region. he said their presence would boost joint military training that could enhance the country's defense capability. >> we have to be asking the united states to help us in terms of being able to achieve this minimum credible defense posture that we are seeking. >> but he ruled out u.s. forces building a base in the philippines. he cited its constitution which prohibits such a measure. the philippine government removed all u.s. troops stationed there 20 years ago. observers say allowing them back could spark fresh controversy. >>> the world's biggest automaker is about to get more powerful. ai uchida from the business desk is here to tell us more. >> that's right, catherine. general motors is tieing up with citron, the world's eighth biggest automaker. the u.s./french tie-up will create the world's largest alliance. annual sales are likely to exceed 12 million units. that's over 50% more than any other car maker in the world. the firms say gm will acquire a 7% stake in citroen, which coin

ambassador roos says the north's action is a threat to peace and stability in the asia-pacific region. tanaka said he will order the self-defense forces to prepare to intercept any falling debris from the rocket. he added that the defense ministry is considering deploying destroyers equipped with the aegis air defense system off southern islands such as ishigaki. he said patriot pac-3 surface-to-air missiles could also be deployed. south korea says it will work with other countries to persuade north korea to scrap the launch plan. south korean foreign minister has discussed the issue with china, japan, russia and the united states. >> translator: the nations share a common understanding that what north korea calls a satellite launch would violate u.n. security council resolutions. we will continue discussing the matter based on this understanding. >> the resolutions adopted two years ago ban any use of ballistic missile technology by north korea. the country says the launch is for the peaceful use of space. south korea strongly opposes a launch, saying it's designed to develop technol

your strategic guidance mandated a shift towards the asia-pacific region, but it also mandated more cooperation with countries who have frontages on to the pacific ocean. so tell me, what exactly are the administration's expectations of its pacific allies? if you could wave your magic wand over the pacific basin, what air and sea capabilities would you like to see your allies acquire and maintain in the years to come? thank you. >> well, one thing i think it's important to note, while our new strategy focuses on the western pacific and the arabian gulf regions, this is not new for either of us. this is not a new focus for the united states or canada to be in the pacific. in fact our fleet right now is 55% in the pacific, 45% elsewhere. and we're gradually going to move that to where it's 60% in the pacific. in terms of our allies, we want to keep doing what we're doing in things like surface and anti-submarine capabilities in isar, in the myriad of ways to overcome the tyranny of distance in the pacific. canada participates in rimpac and has every single time the ring of the pacific exercise th

in the geographic region of east asia is the island of taiwan.ly about 250 miles from end to end, it is dwarfed mighty china. however, taiwan's small size belies a powerful economic tiger. today its thriving high-tech industries hungrily eye chi's enormous market, but until recently investment in china was forbidden. old antagonisms stemming from china's 1949 communist revolution have estranged taiwan from its motherland. even so, taiwanese entrepreneurs have moved into china. we'll hear from one geographer who sees taiwan acting as an interface region between chinese business and western technology. a big question here is whether business relationships can transcend and perhaps ease long-standing political tensions. the peak-hour traffic in taipei is evidence of taiwan's growth as a powerhouse of development. taiwan's affluence is reflected in the high level of motor-vehicle ownership. in tast, it became known around world as a producer of cheap labor-intensive goods, such as clothing and textiles. today it is a major player in the development a

national security agenda in the middle east, north africa and the asia-pacific regions in the role of national security issues in the 2012 presidential election. that's hosted by the american enterprise institute. live coverage starts at 1:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. >>> at the national people's congress in beijing, china's commerce minister addressed reporters in a news conference and discussed china's trade relations with the u.s., arab countries and the european union. recently in the u.s. health, lawmakers approved a measure allowing the commerce department to impose higher duties on goods from china. this one-hour portion from yesterday begins with a question on new u.s. trade measures. it's courtesy of china central television. >> -- on with reuters, i have two questions for the minister. the first one is recently the u.s. government announced that it's going to employ some new measures in case that the chinese government continues to provide subsidy for its exports and the specific measures will include the increase of import duty. i would like to consult the minister for your v

/japan alliance is critical to stability and security in the asia pacific region, that we need a strong japan. the united states needs a strong japan. we need a strong alliance, i think, so carry out the kind of goals that we and our friends and allies in the region share. and so when it comes to things like futenma and other issues, really i think the close and cooperative relationship that we enjoy with japan has been and will continue to be absolutely key to moving forward in the future. >> can i ask you also, sheila or rust, about the public perception of the self-defense forces after 3/11? japan obviously has had a, you know, conflicted relationship with the military, constitutional restrictions. obviously it's called the self-defense forces. but they played the crucial role not for a day or a week but for months. has there been any public opinion polling down to show how people look at them now? >> i just saw some numbers recently. i think 93% of those polled supported the role of the japanese self-defense forces in the recovery operation. so i think the answer is a resounding yes

future leader of the seas as we draw down forces in some areas of the world and focus on the asia pacific region. this will be a lynch pin in the american force. i assume we will see that final contract concluded within a matter of weeks? >> senator, we anticipate that final contract before the end of april. >> excellent. thank you very much. well, let me ask you, then, both of you, secretary mavis, about the shipbuilding industrial bags. of course, your main concern is getting the job done. but we also have to be concerned about the employment peaks and valleys that we may see, and i noticed in your testimony, secretary mavis, we're not really back to 300 ships until 2019. the current one says we'll have new construction of 41 ships. this is a decrease of some 17 ships from the previous bid. considering that and the fact that we're not going to even get within 13 ships of our requirement until 2019, what is that going to do to the so-called employment valleys where employment at the shipyards is here and dips down, then we'reec come ba have the capacity to go up to a previous level. how is that

. >> and this is at a time obviously where we're shifting our focus to the asia-pacific region and, of course, this is an important capability to have in that region. but not only in that region, but we've talked about the importance in the middle east and other areas around the world. >> yes, senator. and with the submarines we have, the asia-pacific would get the attention, so it's the rest of the world that we have to pay as you said particular attention to. >> well, we have other hot areas that we would want to do, not only focus on the asia-pacific but, of course, the middle east and other areas around the world, our own homeland as well, is that right, admiral? >> that's right, senator. >> well, i'm hopeful -- i'm very concerned about the proposal in the '13 budget about where this will bring our production rate, and i think that's something that we have to look at very carefully in this committee. i have to ask you an important question, would you be proposing this production rate but for us handing you a number in the budget control act? >> this was a budgetary process. i mean,

and the development of strong relationships between the united states and countries of the asia pacific region, including china, japan, and the asean countries. secretary schultz also served during the nixon administration as secretary of labor, director of the office of management and budget, and secretary of the treasury. he's been a professor at m.i.t., at the university of chicago, and currently at stanford university where he teaches at the graduate school of business. secretary schultz is also a distinguished fellow at the hoover institution. he holds a b.a. in economics from princeton university and ph.d. from m.i.t. we're so pleased to have with us this evening the wonderful charlotte shut >>, chief of protocol from the city of san francisco, who brings people together in such lovely and meaningful ways. william perry was the 19th united states secretary of defense, serving from february of 1994 through january of 1997 in the clinton administration. he was instrumental in winding down the cold war and forming new and more productive relationships with countries including the former sov

, asia and the pacific, is the most disaster-prone region in the world. we saw it last year with that terrible flooding, for example, in cambodia, in thailand. here in singapore, this country is of course a logistical hub. groups from here participate in the international system. for example, the international search and rescue system. they go in and help countries to find people who may be lost after an earthquake. they're also part of a wider u.n. system that go in and help once there is a disaster. when we bring in people with different skills. singapore very important. cambodia, of course, sharing this year. >> briefly, many lessons to be learned, especially with what happened in 2011. thailand, cambodia. and of course the philippines being hit by floods and's,. >> many lessons to be learned. we all know that if you fete the preparation right, fewer lives will be lost and of course it also costs less. people are able to help each other. they're able to help each other at a regional level, at a national level. that is much better for us as an internati

abide by the standards of international conduct, and not to pose the threats to the broader asia pacific region that it does. we have not been entirely satisfied with china's activities in this regard, but i can assure you this is an issue that we do discuss with china regularly, and we hope that china will take more constructive approach. we also discuss this with russia, with other countries in the region as well. >> i know that south korea, it is my understanding, through investments in china employs 2% of the people of china. that's a lot of people. it would seem like they would see the benefit of having a more normal regime so i appreciate your efforts there. also, i would like to know your assessment, each of you, in regard to the transition from kim jung ill to kim jung yun. we learned he recently placed the military on high alert and with the understanding that it was not to prepare for conflict, to prepare to are your surrender. could you comment on such bluster? >> congressman wilson, we see quite a bit of rhetoric on a daily basis coming out of north korea. my sense that the successi

annenberg media ♪ captioning sponsored by annenberg/cpb narrator: the geographic region of southeast asiand south pacific is characterized by political and economic disparity, a mosaic of small countries scattered on peninsulas and islands. we begin in laos, southeast asia's only landlocked country. a long history of isolation has protected its natural resources and indigenous cultures. laos today is beginning to court the global economy throh e sale of hydroelic pow. wesk ilaosanchieve beginning to csustainable delopment,y generang ec growth of its indigenous tions wd its natural enronment. the mekong river traces an 1,100-mile path through or along the border of laos. the river has also been a barrier between laos and its neighbors. now there is a road, where before there was none. in 1994, the friendship bridge gave laos its first land link with the outside world, through thailand to the west. the bridge may symbolize a connected future, but laos in the here and now remains among the poorest countries in the world. ( rooster crows ) it is the least developed country in the lower mekong