[00:00.00]From VOA Learning English, this is In The News. [00:10.94]It has been nearly three years [00:14.24]since President Barack Obama announced what has been called the “Asia pivot.” [00:20.08]The term describes increasing attention on East Asia [00:24.81]and the Pacific after reducing American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. [00:32.27]This week, President Obama left Washington [00:36.04]for a weeklong trip to four Asian countries. [00:41.07]The trip aimed to re-state U.S. support for the security of Asian allies [00:48.56]and for reducing trade barriers among Pacific nations. [00:54.35]Mr. Obama arrived in Japan Wednesday at a time [00:59.52]when a number of allies are concerned about China’s military expansion. [01:05.64]Many Japanese have noted the failure of the Obama administration [01:10.90]to act on its threats to attack Syria. [01:14.57]They have seen the administration’s unwillingness [01:18.56]to provide military aid to Ukraine. [01:21.73]The Japanese are worried [01:24.84]that the United States may not come to Japan’s aid. [01:28.72]On Thursday, the president said [01:31.80]the U.S. would honor a defense treaty [01:32.88]with Japan if China seizes a disputed group of islands. [01:41.13]The islands are known as Senkaku in Japan [01:45.36]and as Diao yu in China. [01:48.57]Mr. Obama spoke after talks with Japanese Prime Minister ShinzoAbe. [01:54.82]“The treaty between the United States and Japan preceded my birth, [02:00.10]so obviously this isn't a red line that I'm drawing. [02:03.16]It is the standard interpretation [02:06.01]over multiple administrations of the terms of the alliance, [02:10.74]which is that territories under the administration of Japan [02:14.55]are covered under the treaty. [02:15.83]There's no shift in position. [02:18.03]There's no red line that's been drawn. [02:20.36]We're simply applying the treaty.” [02:23.58]But in Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman [02:27.27]noted that nothing has changed. [02:30.32]The official said, “the Diaoyu Islands are China’s inherent territory” [02:37.07]and the country would protect its “sovereignty and maritime rights.” [02:43.72]At his meetings in Tokyo, [02:46.58]President Obama urged Japan to speed up talks [02:51.21]for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. [02:54.16]The partnership would create a free trade zone among Pacific countries. [03:00.88]The negotiations were slowed down over Japanese taxes on agricultural products. [03:08.80]On Friday, the U.S president was in Seoul [03:13.75]for talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye. [03:18.28]At a joint press conference, [03:21.16]Mr. Obama said America would never back away from its promise to help South Korea. [03:28.70]He also said the two countries will stand “shoulder to shoulder” [03:33.60]against any incitement by North Korea. [03:37.52]Earlier he gave a warning to the North against carrying out another nuclear test. [03:44.96]After two days in Seoul, [03:47.12]Mr. Obama will visit Malaysia and then the Philippines. [03:51.60]Territorial disputes with China and U.S. military cooperation [03:57.88]will again come up for discussion. [04:00.92]This is President Obama’s fifth visit to Asia [04:05.51]since taking office in 2009. [04:08.59]Susan Rice is his National Security Advisor. [04:12.82]Speaking before the Asian tour, [04:15.91]she presented the trip as a chance to declare U.S. focus on Asia and the Pacific. [04:23.49]“Whether it ought to be viewed as a containment of China, [04:26.88]I would say this trip has a very positive, [04:29.29]affirmative agenda and that is how we are looking at it - [04:32.35]as an opportunity to solidify and modernize our alliances and partnerships; [04:37.96]as an opportunity to advance our economic agenda.” [04:41.47]And that’s In The News from VOA Learning English. [04:46.20]I’m Steve Ember.

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