Obama Seeks More Funds for Asia-Pacific

Obama Seeks More Funds for Asia-Pacific

By Kathryn McConnell | Staff Writer | 17 May 2013

Washington — President Obama has asked Congress to approve $1.2 billion to support diplomatic and aid operations in countries in East Asia and the Pacific in fiscal year 2014. That is 7 percent more than the amount requested for fiscal 2012 and the largest growth rate for any region.

“The request is a reflection of our priorities … enabling us to work toward proactive diplomacy, effective development, sustainable prosperity, the search for lasting peace and principled American leadership,” Joseph Yun said before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee May 16. Yun is acting under secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs. Fiscal year 2014 begins October 1.

The request would increase funding for the Philippines’ maritime security and improve law enforcement in the country’s southern region. It would support deeper U.S. engagement with China and stronger U.S. ties with new partners in the region. The funds would expand economic integration and trade programs within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forums. They also would fund regional initiatives like the Asia-Pacific Comprehensive Energy Partnership, Yun said.

The budget request would expand aid to the region by more than $53 million to $768.3 million for regional security cooperation, democracy programs, development in the lower Mekong River region, and reductions in the environmental and health effects of unexploded ordnance, Yun said.

Central to regional stability are U.S. treaty alliances with Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, the Philippines and Thailand, he added.

Following Yun, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator Nisha Biswal told the panel that the Asia-Pacific region is home to two-thirds of the world’s population and the world’s fastest-growing economies. “The region presents the U.S. with an unprecedented opportunity for investment, trade and access to cutting-edge technology,” she said.

The aid official pointed out some of the highlights in the budget request:

• The request prioritizes support for political and economic transition in Burma. It would fund improvements in the country’s health system, increase its food security and support peace reconciliation efforts while emphasizing the roles of women and social cohesion.

• In the Philippines, the requested funds would support the Partnership for Growth to help the country achieve inclusive economic development while continuing to strengthen the country’s democratic processes, rule of law, regulatory quality and environmental protection programs. The Partnership for Growth consists of agreements between the United States and select countries to accelerate growth.

• In Indonesia, funds would help make improvements in the country’s health care, governance, and environmental and disaster-management capabilities. The funding request also would increase U.S. spending on higher education with a focus on technology and innovation.

• In Mongolia, funds would allow USAID to build on the successes of current programs to accelerate government effectiveness and transparency, and increase diversified economic growth to ensure that the gains are sustained as the country transitions from a development recipient to a trade and investment partner.

• The requested budget for fiscal 2014 would increase spending to improve health programs in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam by 33 percent.

• The request also would increase by 17 percent the funds for forest and coral conservation, clean energy adoption, stronger fisheries management and illegal wildlife trafficking enforcement. It would support the continuation of a five-year activity to strengthen the resilience to natural disasters of communities in 12 countries. More than half of the world’s major natural disasters occur in the region, Biswal said.

“At a time when the region is building a more mature security and economic architecture to promote stability and prosperity, effective and sustained U.S. engagement can have an unprecedented positive impact,” Yun said.

“U.S. leadership will help shape that architecture,” he said.

ENDS

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