Today, Heritage was honored to host Representative Ed Royce (R–CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, for its annual B. C. Lee Lecture on Asia policy. South Korean Ambassador Choi Young-jin was another special guest and co-host of a reception at Heritage that followed.
Ambassador Choi was joined by several of his fellow ambassadors from Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh and deputy chiefs of mission from Vietnam, Australia, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Canada, and Taiwan.
Chairman Royce’s remarks highlighted his concern that in Asia—what Royce calls America’s “Near West”—the attention is shifting away from economic prosperity to security concerns. Disputes over sovereign territories and the threat of attack from North Korea are stirring an arms race in the Asia–Pacific region. North Korea’s change in leadership and testing of nuclear devices and long-range missiles has become a serious issue.
Stricter sanctions need to be brought against North Korea by the United States. Royce announced to the capacity Heritage audience that he plans to seek bipartisan legislation to act further against North Korea and their access to foreign currencies and banks.
The U.S. should also implement measures to promote trade and investment among Asia–Pacific countries. As Royce stated, “Where goods and services cross borders, armies do not.”
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