United States President Barack Obama, aside from attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting this week, will also visit a coastal facility in Philippines. President Obama is “going to a coastal facility in the Philippines to showcase our maritime cooperation with the Philippines,” Obama’s Deputy National Security Adviser for strategic communication Ben Rhodes said November 12 in press briefing at White House.
He will be visiting Turkey, the Philippines and Malaysia for G20 Summit, APEC Leaders’ Meeting, and meetings with ASEAN and East Asian leaders, respectively. US President Obama’s visit to Philippines is his second and last a the President of the United States.
“The President will also engage in a series of bilateral meetings, and these visits together will show not only the strength of our rebalance strategy with the conclusion of the TPP, but also American leadership on the political and security issues that are critical to sustaining the rules-based order in Asia, including maritime, cyber, and human rights,” National Security Adviser Susan Rice said at the same press briefing.
“At its heart, the President’s rebalance to Asia is about building a rules-based order in Asia in which all countries pursue their national interests and their prosperity peacefully,” Rice said.
In his Asian trip, Obama will hold bilateral meetings with Australia, Canada, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia. “All of which underscore the importance of our alliances and the security partnerships across the Pacific,” Rice noted.