Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta waves as he boards an Air Force E4-B on Joint Base Andrews, Md., May 30, 2012. Panetta departed on a 10-day trip to Asia to meet with defense counterparts. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
Panetta To Explain US Strategic Shift To Asian Allies -- Reuters
* Defense secretary to visit Singapore, Vietnam, India
* Trip comes amid renewed South China Sea tensions
* Delicate balance needed to avoid spat with China
WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will brief allies on the U.S. strategic shift toward Asia and will seek to allay concerns that fiscal uncertainty could undermine Washington's commitment to the effort as he begins a week-long visit to the region this weekend.
With the Asia-Pacific region unsettled by renewed tensions over competing sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, Panetta flies to Hawaii on Wednesday for briefings with the head of the U.S. Pacific Command before traveling on to Singapore for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.
Read more ....
More News On U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta Traveling To Asia To Meet (And Explain) America`s Strategic Shift Toward Asia
Panetta leaving on 9-day trip to Asia -- CNN
Panetta heads to Asia to back allies, avoid riling China -- Stars and Stripes/Bloomberg
Panetta Travels to Asia to Discuss Refocus on Region -- Defpro
U.S. to refocus on Asia-Pacific region -- UPI
Panetta Heads to Asia to Explain Strategic Shift -- Epoch Times
Panetta to discuss military trade on India trip -- New York Daily News
Will strengthen US naval presence in Asia: Panetta -- Zee News
Navy grads told their future is building US strength in Pacific -- MSNBC
“Delicate Dance” for Panetta in China’s Backyard -- Kirk Spitzer, Time
My Comment: This is the real reason on why Leon Panetta is going to Asia. More here.