Mattis spoke in singapore this weekend. Hour. S just under an primary reason for being here is to listen. I thought that Prime Minister turnbull specifically, Vice President pences words in his trip to south korea, japan, indonesia, and australia, we have been assured the United Statess enduring commitment. It is based on Strategic Interests and on shared values of free people, free markets, and a strong environment economic partnership. Andthe number of ships in their navies. Nations, small nations, and even shrimps can even survive integralsbased order. Such an order benefits all nations. It is based on Strong Military partnerships, robust investment, trade relationships, and close ties between the people of our countrys. We all share this mighty specific ocean mighty pacific ocean. So many young people from pacific nations choose to come to american diversities to study. We appreciate that many of our students attend universities in your countries because they return home and reached by your culture. It highlights the breath and the depth of relationships between asianpacific nations and the importance that the u. S. Has in terms of the role in its region. Ons morning i want to focus two broad subject areas and make this time worthwhile to you. The first area is americas view of the key security challenges. The second is the approach we are taking alongside Pacific Partners to address those challenges. Anthe security arena we have abiding commitment. Know, is a as we all true product of so many nations efforts to create stability. These efforts, we do not take them for granted. They grew out of Lessons Learned the hard way from an economic depression and catastrophic wars. The International Order was not imposed on other nations. It is based on principles that were embraced by nations trying to create a better world and restore hope to all. Those principles have stood the test of time, like equal respect for International Law, regardless of a nations sizer wealth, and freedom of navigation and overflight, including keeping shipping lanes oceans for all nations commercial benefit. These principles underwrite stability, build trust, security, and prosperity. The growing prosperity in this region gives proof to the value of such groups as the United Nations, the world bank, the International Monetary fund. They remind us that each of us have a vested interest in each security. That United States will continue to adapt and expand its ability to work with others, to secure a peaceful, preference, prosperous, and free asia. Because we recognize that no nation is an island, we stand with our allies and of the International Community to address pressing security challenges together. As countries make sovereign decisions free from coercion, the region will gain increased stability and security for the equal benefit of all nations. In our cooperative pursuit of that vision, we cannot ignore the challenges that you and i face. As Vice President pence stated, the most urgent threat to security in the asianpacific is north korea. Their pursuit of Nuclear Weapons and the means to deliver them is not new, but the regime has increased the pace and scope of its efforts. While it has a long record of the murder of diplomats, kidnapping of innocents, killing of sailors, the Nuclear Weapons program is maturing as a threat to all. Coupled with reckless proclamations, the Current Program signals a clear intent to acquire nucleararmed ballistic missiles, including those of intercontinental range that provide an immediate threat. President trump has made clear that the era of strategic patience is over. As a matter of u. S. National security, the United States regards the threat is a clear and present danger. The regimes actions are manifestly illegal. There is a Strong International consensus that the Current Situation cannot continue. Chinas declared policy of a denuclearize peninsula is our policy as well. Also that of japan and the republic of korea. All nations share an interest in restoring stability. The Trump Administration is encouraged by chinas renewed commitment to work with the International Community toward denuclearization. Ultimately china will come to recognize north korea as a strategic liability, not an asset. A liability citing increased incitingy, and peaceloving nations to increase defense spending. As chinas president xi said in april, only if all sides live up can the issues be resolved as quickly as possible. I agree with the president s words. Those words must be followed by actions. North korea poses a threat. It is imperative that we do our part to fulfill our obligations and Work Together to support our shared goal of denuclearization of the korean peninsula. We are coordinating with the United Nations and our partners to put new pressures on north korea to abandon their path. I reiterate secretary tillersons statement at the United Nations. He said, our goal is not regime change. We do not want to destabilize the region. We will continue to increase to poetic and economic pressure diplomatic and economic pressure its pyongyang abandons nuclear program. The United States will maintain close coordination and cooperation with the republic of korea and japan, two democracies whose people what peace. They include the employment of our most event skip abilities. Moreover advanced capabilities. Moreover, will continue to defend the homeland,estimates traded by this weeks successful ballistic defense test. We must not lose sight of other regional challenges to peace and prosperity. I want to talk about china and the United States. Because of its growing economic power, china occupies a legitimate position of influence. We welcome chinas economic development, however, we can also anticipate economic and political friction. We cannot accept chinese actions that impinge on the interests of the International Community, underlining the order that has been a faced the rulesbased order that has benefited all countries today, especially china. While competition between the u. S. And china is bound to occur, conflict is not inevitable. Our countries can and do cooperate. We will pledge to work closely with china where we share a c ommon cause. We seek a constructive, resultsoriented relationship with china. We believe that the United States can engage china diplomatically and economically. Not only to the United States and chinja, but also to the region and the world. All countries should have a voice in shaping the International System, but doing so by ignoring or violating International Law threatens all that the inclusive Global Community has built together over 70 years. An International System that grew out of the grim lessons of world war ii, and the immense suffering of tens of millions. The United States remains committed to protecting the rights, freedoms, lawful uses of the right of countries to protect those rights in the South China Sea. The ruling by the court of arbitration on the philippines regarding the child South China Sea is binding. We call on all claimants to use this as a starting point, to peacefully manage their disputes. Artificial Island Construction and indisputable militarization of facilities on features in International Waters undermines regional stability. The scope and effect of chinas construction activities in the South China Sea differs from other countries in key ways. This includes the nature of its militarization, chinas disregard for International Law, itscontempt for other nations interests, and its tendency to dismiss issues. We oppose countries militarizing artificial islands and enforcing Maritime Claims unsupported by International Law. We cannot and will not accept electoral, course of changes unilateral, coercive changes to the status quo. We will demonstrate resolve through Operational Presence in the South China Sea and beyond. Our operations throughout the reason region have a willingness to protect our interests and the freedoms enshrined in International Law. As the Prime Minister modi has stated so clearly, respecting the freedom of navigation and adhering to International Arms norms are essential for the interlinked geography of the pacific. Chinas growth over these last decades illustrates that Chinese People have benefited enormously from these very freedoms. We seek to cooperate with china as much as possible. We seek to manage competition responsibly because we recognize how important u. S. China relations are for the stability of the asiapacific. We believe that china also recognizes this. We continue to Work Together with our longtime, steadfast allies. We ensure the military means to keep the peace. We will not use our allies and partners, or our relationships with them, or the capabilities integral to their security as bargaining chips. In addition to the challenges presented by north korea and china, there is another situation that we must all Work Together to address for the good of our nations and to ensure a healthy for our peoples. Violence, as noted by the premised her last night, encoding fighters returning from the medical middle east seek to gain ground in southeast asia. Last week, isis linked militants in the philippines attempted to seize part of a city and mindanao. Killing police and taking worshipers hostage. Isis claimed responsibility for the brutal bombings that killed three Police Officers at a jakarta bus station. We americans stand in sympathy livespport of those whose have been brutalized by such criminals. We must act now to prevent such threats from growing, otherwise it will place security at risk and stun economic dynamism. We need only look at the chaos and violence that our friends in the middle east are dealing with to see why we must swiftly, and jointly attend to threaten our region. We must defeat extremist organizations wherever they attempt to establish roots. Syria, but iraq and also here in southeast asia. The u. S. Or minsk committed remains committed to defeating to the coalition effort. The arab league, nato, interpol, and the European Union are all fully committed at the political, law enforcement, and military levels to the destruction of isis. This heartbreaking attack we are observing now on a city in mindanao reminds us that terrorists intentionally make battlefields where the innocent love. These are humanitarian fields. We must vote ourselves to ensuring a stable environment. With violent extremist wither andns, they citizens. Our we stand with the philippines in the fight they are currently engaged in. For our counterterrorism efforts to be accepted, we must unify our efforts, strengthened by moral clarity, political will and an implacable commitment to share the difficult and dangerous work that this will require. We are partnering with a number of countries in the region, including malaysia and indonesia to improve informationsharing, maritime domain awareness, so regional leaders can deliver protection for their people. Information sharing is vital if we are to maintain law and order against a foe that intentionally targets women, children, and the innocent in our country. I am confident we can make these diverse region safer without sacrificing prosperity or its values. In me describe three ways which the department of defense, which i lead, is pursuing our Common Objective of regional stability. Our primary effort remains strengthening alliances. The protects and promotes principles we share with our steadfast allies. History is compelling on this point. Nations with strong allies that respect one another thrive. Those without allies stagnate and whither. Alliances provide avenues for peace, fostering the conditions for Economic Growth with countries that share the same vision while tempering the plans of those who had attacked other nations or tried to impose their will over the less powerful. I can note several examples. I dont want to talk too long, but let me make note of the United States and japan implementing the 2017 defense guidelines to enhance Regional Security across the wider spectrum of operations, cooperating more closely in the asiapacific. Japan is contributed relocation of our u. S. Forces to guam, which is a statistic significant strategic hug. We are working transparently with the republic of korea to combat the threats posed by north koreas aggressive and destabilizing Ballistic Nuclear missile programs. U. S. And Australian Forces have shared the battlefield in every major conflict. President trump and Prime Minister turnbull commemorated a key part of our shared history, when our allied efforts in the battle of coral see took coral sea took place. Our Alliance Remains relevant in the 21st century. Our combined interoperability with allied forces enhance the initiative we are taking ensures we are prepared to cooperate during realworld crises. Deterrence of war remains our ultimate goal. Were determined to advise and assist the philippines in their fight against violent extremists in the south. We all know that support to the philippine government. We continued support the modernization of the Philippine Armed forces to address the security challenges. During this challenging fight against terror, we will stand by the people of the philippines, and will continue to uphold our commitments to the philippines under the mutual defense treaty. Our closest ally in the region, thailand, has been and will remain vital in challenging these threats. Thailand has announced its intent to hold elections. We look forward to our longtime friends return to democratic ofernance, and the expansion the military relationship, grounded in our everlasting confidence in the tahi people thai people. We are encouraging an interconnected region. These linkages are expanding, including, but independent of the United States. That is a development that we welcome. Our Second Department of defense priority is to empower countries so that they can sec. Mattis their own peace and stability. The countries represented are obviously critical to strengthening and transforming the underlying security structure that has enable tremendous regional prosperity. We do not take that piece or prosperity for granted. Countries toall contribute sufficiently to their own security. At the same time, we encourage them to actively seek out opportunities and partnerships with other likeminded nations as we do the same to sustain and maintain the peace. We will continue to engage closely with our partners, building on recent progress. We are exploring new ways to address the challenges as well. From Maritime Security to the growing threat posed by the spread of terrorism in southeast asia. For example, we recognize india, the most populous democracy in the world, as a major defense partner. We did so in part out of respect for indias indispensable role in maintaining stability in the indian ocean region. We are also conducting the first ever transfer of a coast guard cutter to vietnam and completed the inaugural u. S. Singapore air departmen attachment in guam, wl interoperability between our forces. The department of defense remains steadfastly committed to working with taiwan, and with its democratic government to provide in the defense articles necessary. Consistent with the obligations. Et out in our taiwan relations we stand for the peaceful resolution of any issues in a manner acceptable to people on both sides of the taiwan strait. A stableso know that region requires us all to Work Together, and that is why we support greater engagement with because no single bilateral relationship can get us where we want to go. Only working in concert can take us forward. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of asean and the 40th anniversary of relations between asean and the United States. In america, we are proud of our four decades of working together , and we believe our best days are ahead. The future of asean is bright, and that is good for all pacific nations. The indonesiane president s statement at the 2016 east asia