US Diplomat Says Relations With Burma Not Aimed at China

US Diplomat Says Relations With Burma Not Aimed at China
LALIT K JHA , The Irrawaddy, Thursday, December 15, 2011

US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell said that the US has its own independent challenges and relationship with Burma and its recent efforts to build up ties with the Southeast Asian nation is not aimed towards China.

While participating in a discussion organized by the Foreign Policy Initiative, a Washington-based think tank, Campbell addressed the issue of whether US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent trip to Burma was focused on China.

“The truth is that we have our own independent challenges and relationship with Burma that has stretched back decades and that we made our policy choices and determinations directly because of our own desire to seek a better future for the people of Burma,” said Campbell.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that there has been positive progress in Burma.

“In Myanmar [Burma] we see a promising new opening—we will persist through our good offices and other efforts,” Ban Ki-moon told reporters at his year-end news conference.

In remarks in Jakarta, Indonesia, Michael Camunez, the US Assistant Secretary of Commerce, said the US is closely monitoring the progress in Burma.

“Secretary Clinton's recent visit was very important and indicates that we are interested in improving relations with that country—contingent on continued reforms and improvements in human rights. We will be monitoring developments in Burma closely,” said Camunez.

US Diplomat Says Relations With Burma Not Aimed at China