Daniel R. Russel: “The United States has for going on seven decades been the guarantor of the security in the Asia-Pacific region.”

I believe that a withdrawal of the U.S. presence from the South China Sea would result in a tactical accommodation by the countries of Southeast Asia with China.

do we think of economic engagement as a reward or are we using it as a tool to try to shore up these principles and these ideals

It is clear that no amount of dredging or construction will alter or enhance the legal strength of a nation's territorial claims.

We will make an assessment based on the facts and we will calibrate our response to the elections based on our assessment of how credible, how transparent, how inclusive, how free and fair we think it was.